SB Nation - Mardy Gilyard

We're All Americans, But We're Not All All-Americans

Oops Pow Surprise — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:51:28 -0000

by Charlie Neibergall - AP

Iowa's Pat Angerer (43) celebrates with teammates Allen Reisner and Dace Richardson, right, after Iowa blocked a Northern Iowa field goal on the final play. Iowa won 17-16. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

View full size photo »

As is usually the case after a 10-win season, the accolades are beginning to pour in for the Iowa Hawkeye football team. Everyone and their mom has an all-conference or All-American team, but the two that actually matter--Walter Camp and the AP--are now out. And for the 33th year in a row, the unanimous selection for player of the year is Frank Stallone*.

More importantly, the AP named three Hawkeyes to their All-American teams. While nobody made it onto the first team, thanks to Ricky Stanzi's ankle injury--come on, you know if he stays healthy and Iowa goes 11-1 and finishes at #5 or so, even the guys on defense get a little bit more of a bump--both Bryan Bulaga and Pat Angerer made it to the second team, while Tyler Sash made third-team AA as a sophomore. A fine moment for all three players (two of whom, as we insular and provincial types are quick to point out, are native Iowans).

Meanwhile, the Walter Camp Foundation agreed with the AP, naming Bulaga and Angerer to their second team as well and effectively establishing the two as the de facto MVPs of their respective sides of the ball. We have a little beef with each designation, but for wholly different reasons.

First, though Bulaga is by far the best pro prospect on the line as of right now and was utterly dominant in 2008, the reality is that even notwithstanding the 3-week absence as he recovered from thyroid issues, he struggled in 2009. Brandon Graham and O'Brien Schofield manhandled Bulaga. And while those are two very good defensive ends, so was Aaron Maybin, the 11th pick of the 2009 by the Buffalo Bills and Bryan Bulaga's personal prison bitch after Iowa-PSU 2008. There was a substantial dropoff in play by Bulaga in 2009, and voters just didn't notice it when it came time to hand out awards.

Meanwhile, Dace Richardson was actually very good in his return to the line, and he got a fair amount of media attention when mid-season awards were being handed out. Then his ankle was rolled up on against Michigan State, and he disappeared from both the depth chart and voters' attention. But why should he have been punished for an ankle injury while voters looked past Bulaga's absence of a similar length? It's all past reputation, and that's not really fair to guys who come from nowhere and work their butts off--especially in their senior year, where there's no chance for any payoff in the "rewarded in Year X for play in Year X-minus-1" system that's come to be when it comes to honoring offensive linemen.

What this comes down to is that if the AP were to select an Iowa lineman for All-American this season, we'd have preferred it be Dace--though we'll certainly "settle for" Bulaga instead. If both men are playing their last game for Iowa next month, as lots of speculation suggests, then they've both had stellar careers in the black and gold and we wish them well.

On defense, on the other hand, Pat Angerer didn't really establish himself as the most dominant player for that Iowa defense, but that's hardly through any fault of his own. After all, one usually does so by being simply better than his teammates, and the talent level on the Iowa defense this year was both so high and so consistent that it was hard to see Angerer as someone who was the best player on defense. After all, you could always come back with, "well why not Sash? Or Adrian Clayborn? Or Amari Spievey? Or A.J. Edds? Or, hell, Jeremiha Hunter?" We're not saying that Angerer was the 6th best player on the Iowa defense by any means--just that ranking the top 5 or 6 or so would be impossible, because the gaps would be so miniscule that personal preference could easily mean a 3- or 4-spot swing here or there and it wouldn't even be objectionable.

Angerer's accolades, then, come from two areas: 1) his name, which is everything you could ever hope for times infinity; 2) and his stats, which sort of sneak up on you for the same reasons mentioned in the previous paragraph. As mentioned before, he was 5th in the nation in tackles at 11.3 a game. That's pretty outstanding, especially since--as TRE noticed during the season--Angerer's real strength might have been in pass coverage, not run support.

Still, absent game-changing plays, it's somewhat difficult to notice the overall impact a player has on a game. And all of those game-changing plays seemed to happen to other players--most notably Sash and Clayborn, and to a lesser extent Spievey.

Thus we have a weird ambiguity about how we look at Angerer's standing as the most highly-lauded member of the 2009 Iowa defense. It's not that he didn't deserve it--far from it--but with a defense like Iowa's, you could basically pick a name out of a hat and feel relatively confident that you made a good choice. It was that kind of year. Effectively singling out Angerer for praise, then, seems unusual and almost a little unfair. Oh well. There are worse problems to have.

Full AP All-American teams are after the break.

First team
Offense
	   Quarterback -- Colt McCoy, senior, 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Texas.
	   Running backs -- Toby Gerhart, senior, 6-1, 235, Stanford; Mark Ingram, sophomore, 5-10, 212, Alabama.
	   Tackles -- Russell Okung, senior, 6-5, 301, Oklahoma State; Trent Williams, senior, 6-5, 318, Oklahoma.
	   Guards -- Michael Johnson, senior, 6-6, 305, Alabama; Mike Iupati, senior, 6-6, 330, Idaho.
	   Center -- J.D. Walton, senior, 6-3, 305, Baylor.
	   Tight end -- Aaron Hernandez, junior, 6-2, 250, Florida.
	   Wide receivers -- Golden Tate, junior, 5-11, 195, Notre Dame; Jordan Shipley, senior, 6-0, 190, Texas.
	   All-purpose player -- C.J. Spiller, senior, 5-11, 195, Clemson.
	   Kicker -- Leigh Tiffin, senior, 6-2, 212, Alabama.
Defense
	   Ends -- Jerry Hughes, senior, 6-3, 257, TCU; Derrick Morgan, junior, 6-4, 272, Georgia Tech.
	   Tackles -- Ndamukong Suh, senior, 6-4, 300, Nebraska; Terrence Cody, senior, 6-5, 365, Alabama.
	   Linebackers -- Rolando McClain, junior, 6-4, 258, Alabama; Greg Jones, junior, 6-1, 228, Michigan State; Eric Norwood, senior, 6-1, 252, South Carolina.
	   Cornerbacks -- Joe Haden, junior, 5-11, 190, Florida; Javier Arenas, senior, 5-9, 198, Alabama.
	   Safeties -- Eric Berry, junior, 5-11, 203, Tennessee; Earl Thomas, sophomore, 5-10, 197, Texas.
	   Punter -- Drew Butler, sophomore, 6-2, 201, Georgia.
Second team
	   Quarterback -- Tim Tebow, senior, Florida.
	   Running backs -- Ryan Mathews, junior, Fresno State; Dion Lewis, freshman, Pittsburgh.
	   Tackles -- Bryan Bulaga, junior, Iowa; Chris Marinelli, senior, Stanford.
	   Guards -- Rodney Hudson, junior, Florida State; Mike Pouncey, junior, Florida.
	   Center -- Maurkice Pouncey, junior, Florida.
	   Tight end -- Dennis Pitta, senior, BYU.
	   Wide receivers -- Mardy Gilyard, senior, Cincinnati; Danario Alexander, senior, Missouri.
	   All-purpose player -- James Rodgers, junior, Oregon State.
	   Kicker -- Kai Forbath, junior, UCLA.
Defense
	   Ends -- Von Miller, junior, Texas A&M; Brandon Graham, senior, Michigan.
	   Tackles -- Gerald McCoy, junior, Oklahoma; Jared Odrick, senior, Penn State.
	   Linebackers -- Pat Angerer, senior, Iowa; Brandon Spikes, senior, Florida; Sean Weatherspoon, senior, Missouri.
	   Cornerbacks -- Perrish Cox, senior, Oklahoma State; Kyle Wilson, senior, Boise State.
	   Safeties -- Taylor Mays, senior, Southern California; Rahim Moore, sophomore, UCLA.
	   Punter -- Zoltan Mesko, senior, Michigan.
Third team
Offense
	   Quarterback -- Kellen Moore, sophomore, Boise State
	   Running backs -- LaMichael James, redshirt freshman, Oregon; Jacquizz Rodgers, sophomore, Oregon State.
	   Tackles -- Dennis Landolt, senior, Penn State; Ciron Black, senior, LSU.
	   Guards -- Brandon Carter, senior, Texas Tech; Jeff Byers, senior, Southern California.
	   Center -- Chris Hall, senior, Texas.
	   Tight end -- Dorin Dickerson, senior, Pittsburgh.
	   Wide receivers -- Freddie Barnes, senior, Bowling Green; Demaryius Thomas, junior, Georgia Tech.
	   All-purpose player -- Dexter McCluster, senior, Mississippi.
	   Kicker -- Hunter Lawrence, senior, Texas.
Defense
	   Ends -- Jeremy Beal, junior, Oklahoma; Brandon Sharpe, senior, Texas Tech.
	   Tackles -- Brian Price, junior, UCLA; Dan Williams, senior, Tennessee.
	   Linebackers -- Sergio Kindle, senior, Texas; Cody Grimm, senior, Virginia Tech; Navorro Bowman, junior, Penn State.
	   Cornerbacks -- Brandon Harris, sophomore, Miami; Alterraun Verner, senior, UCLA.
	   Safeties -- Tyler Sash, sophomore, Iowa; Mark Barron, sophomore, Alabama.
	   Punter -- Matt Reagan, senior, Memphis.

*Did you know he was in Tombstone, a.k.a. the SINGLE GREATEST MOVIE IN HISTORY? And in a phenomenal scene, to boot.

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Thursday (12/3/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:12:04 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information and entertainment. Today we're being brought to you by Ursus, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown. Even when I'm not trying, the red & gold label pops up.

This is eerie. There's plenty of news and such about this game, but it just feels quiet and that gives me an uneasy feeling (hopefully it's just this head cold I'm fighting). I'm heading up to NJ tomorrow. Anybody else going to the game? The tipline is open, as always. Let's get going...

NOOOOOO!!! - With Leather
"Cincinnati's Brian Kelly to be next head coach at Notre Dame, according to report."

Mardy Gilyard overcame great odds to lead Cincinnati Bearcats - SI.com
"Two years after being homeless, Gilyard has Cincy on brink"

Sources Say Edsall Has NOT Been Contacted By Notre Dame - Hartford Courant

And Mayes Makes 22 - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
22 players have left the program this year...wow

Syracuse football outlook: Majority of starters will be back for 2010 season - syracuse.com

Charlie Strong may be top choice to coach Louisville football - Courier-Journal

USF's Leavitt suddenly dean of state coaches - Tampa Tribune

Nebraska can make mess of BCS - Cincinnati Enquirer
I think I can honestly say for the first time....Go Huskers!!! Make a mess out of this!!!!

Gator Bowl can select Florida State for Bobby Bowden sendoff - SI.com

What's On Tap:

Oregon State Beavers vs. Oregon Ducks Preview - ESPN
Tonight is the Civil War/War of the Roses for the Pac-10 berth in the Rose Bowl at 9 pm on ESPN. Oregon is favored by 10.5. And here's this week's betting assistance:

Video of Interest:

This video is making the rounds and I'm pretty sure for the wrong reason. Based on the old "Freeze" play we used to run at WVU when Trickett was here, my guess is this one lineman is the only one who did what he was supposed to do.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Gift Suggestion Gallery of the Week:

Here's my Christmas wish list. If anyone wants to get me any of these, I promise not to return or re-gift.

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is also on my Christmas wish list. Please welcome Romanian beauty, Madalina Diana Ghenea.

via babes.flabber.nl

Ursus image via www.brandsoftheworld.com

Oh Yes, It's Upset Time: Previewing West Virginia @ Cincinnati

Dr. Charley West — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:50:57 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Gentner - AP

Browse more photos »

West Virginia, at 7-2 overall and 3-1 in conference, needs to earn a dose of respect. Wins over Liberty, East Carolina, Colorado, Syracuse, Marshall, UConn, and Louisville have not quite done the trick. Even ranked #25 in the BCS, the Mountaineers need that defining game to transform this season from lackluster to electric. They get their chance Friday night.

Cincinnati is 9-0 and looking to start a season unbeaten in ten for the first time in school history. They are ranked #5 in the country, territory that is usually reserved in the Big East for WVU. Even when their Heisman candidate QB Tony Pike went down with injury, superstar backup Zach Collaros kept the machine running, maybe even more successfully than Pike himself. It will be Collaros who starts for the Bearcats Friday, with Pike expected to at least play for the first time in a month (he is slated to start next weekend against Illinois).

So how can West Virginia win? Glad you asked.

First, the offensive line needs to show up. Notably absent for most of the season, the Mountaineers' offensive line will actually have to block an opposing player on Friday for the visitors to have any chance. With Jarrett Brown, Noel Devine, Tavon Austin, and Jock Sanders all potentially able to line up in the backfield, the Bearcats will have a task containing that group -- but only if the offensive line gives them a chance. Too often this season, both Brown and Devine have been forced into decisions that are not ideal (Devine turns two yard losses into 30 yard gains in his sleep, but let's not make it tougher on him, OK? OK.)

This will be made all the tougher as, even as a team known for their offense, Cincinnati boasts a very good defense. Giving up 45 points to UConn will provide the Mountaineers some inspiration, but this is a Bearcat defensive unit that only allows 16.4 points per game. They are most susceptible to the pass, which will put Brown's decision making in the spotlight. If Brown can manage a game intelligently, which is something this team has sorely lacked most of this season, the Mountaineers have a chance. If he's sharp, avoids sacks and turnovers, and lets his wheels loose, watch out. On the other hand, if he's careless with the ball, Cincinnati will eat him alive (I don't know what a Bearcat eats, considering it's a stupid name for a mascot and I didn't want to waste any more time on Wikipedia, but it will be Brown Friday night).

On the other side of the ball, Cincinnati is the only team in the conference to surpass WVU with playmakers. Names like Pike, Collaros, Mardy Gilyard, Isaiah Pead, Armon Binns, and Jacob Ramsey are all game-changers. West Virginia's defense did a good job of doing more bending than breaking last week against Louisville, but Cincinnati is not Louisville. The front three of Chris Nield, Scooter Berry, and emerging Julian Miller must slow-down the vaunted Bearcat attack, which is averaging a tidy 40 points per outing. If they can get pressure on the quarterback, then cornerbacks Brandon Hogan and Keith Tandy (gasp!) will not be forced into less than pleasurable coverage situations.

On the outside, it doesn't look like West Virginia has much of a chance. And maybe they don't. Nearly double-digit underdogs, on the road, against a fired-up night crowd in cozy Nippert Stadium is not generally a recipe for victory. But even as the battle looks uphill, remember that WVU still has one of the most playmaker-laden teams in all of college football. At any moment, the game can be broken open. We all know the talent is there -- there's very little doubting that. But we haven't seen 60 minutes of talent yet. Will we Friday? Who knows.

But if the Mountaineers can finally string together a complete effort, anything is possible, even a top 10 upset.

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Friday (10/30/09), USF Gameday Edition

WVUIE97 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:10:01 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by the King of Beers (their words, not mine), Budweiser. That makes eight.

Good Morning Neverland!!! It's Game Day and as usual, there's an extra spring in my step because of it (doesn't hurt that VPI lost their third game last night as well). Like the coaches with the team, I feel it's my duty to get you into Game Day Focus and I've gathered lots to hopefully accomplish that. Have a safe and Happy Halloween weekend. Enjoy the game, and, as always, your tips and requests are greatly appreciated. So without further adieu...

What You May Have Missed:

Scouting Report: South Florida - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Top Ten For WVU - MSNsportsNET.Com
But you already knew that.

Bits and Bytes: WVU - USF - BlueGoldNews.com

Big East picks, Week 9 - ESPN
Let's hope his streak stays alive as well.

Video: West Virginia-South Florida preview - ESPN
BE football blogger Brian Bennett has a video preview for us. I can't embed it (plus there's already enough videos below).

USF's Head Coach Jim Leavitt - WVIllustrated.com
Video interview

Friday Q&A: West Virginia quarterback Jarrett Brown - ESPN

Halloween in the Big East - ESPN

Football: Williams Named Campbell Finalist - MSNsportsNET.Com

Butler, Ebanks Make Watch List - MSNsportsNET.Com

College GameDay Kickoff: Week 9 preview - ESPN

News of Note:

Bulls try to escape their own horror film - ESPN

A Complete Runner - MSNsportsNET.Com

Dangerous Road Trip - WVMETRONEWS.COM

WVU visits South Florida tonight - Times West Virginian

WVU facing South Florida - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Brown should feel right at home - Charleston Gazette

WVU right at home in Florida - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column. Same title, different article than the one from Parkersburg yesterday.

Mounties' Sunshine Staters Look Forward to Homecoming - EerSports.com

WV’s Devine eyes homecoming against South Florida - Martinsburg Journal (AP)

Devine a concern for South Florida - Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Second half has been good to Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU will attack Bulls defense - Charleston Daily Mail

Has West Virginia’s Offense Caught up to USF’s Defense? - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

WVU wins on paper against USF - Charleston Daily Mail

Mountaineers Adjusting On the Fly - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Stewart has faith in Kozlowski’s punting - Inter-Mountain

Penalties have put Bulls in a quandary - Tampa Tribune

WVU's White gone, but Brown is a challenge for Bulls - Tampa Tribune

It’s USF Week: Let’s Meet the WVU Line - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Capers learning to shine as WVU's right tackle - Charleston Daily Mail

West Virginia enjoys weeknight games - PPG

News not all good for WVU's Huggins - Charleston Gazette
Vingle's notebook

Recruiting:

Rogers already puts offenses in chaos - Charleston Daily Mail

Robert Johnson - WVIllustrated.com

NCAA approves rules changes on basketball recruiting - ESPN

What's On Tap:

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. South Florida Bulls, October 30 2009 - ESPN
8 pm tonight on ESPN2. Current line has us by 3.

Men's Basketball: Open Scrimmage on Saturday - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU Coliseum on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Men's Soccer: WVU to Conclude Regular Season - MSNsportsNET.Com
Saturday, Oct. 31, at Seton Hall. Kickoff at Owen T. Carroll Field is set for 7 p.m.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Four positions later, Rutgers sophomore Eric LeGrand may have found a home at tackle - Star Ledger

SU must play keep-away with Bearcats - syracuse.com

Two of the best square off - Cincinnati Enquirer
"When the University of Cincinnati’s offense is not on the field Saturday, you can expect to find Mardy Gilyard watching Syracuse wide receiver Mike Williams when he has the chance." In other news, Pike ruled out for this week.

Will Stein could be U of L’s starting QB - Courier-Journal

Pitt's line key to successful offense - PPG

Stull Stories: Redemption and Booing - Pitt Blather

Cheerleader of the Week: Cincinnati's Kayli - SI.com
I'm not one to usually hype a conference rival school....but she's cute (full gallery linked from the questionnaire).

Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant banned for rest of season - SI.com (AP)

Tailgate Recipe of the Week:

Whenever I get the chance to spend some time in Florida, I try to at least get some kind of alligator dish. So....

Okefenokee Fried Alligator

Ingredients

1 (1 lb) package alligator meat

meat tenderizer

garlic powder

black pepper

1 dash cayenne pepper

cooking oil

flour

salt

Directions

After thawing sprinkle with meat tenderizer.

Let stand for 20 minutes.

Season to taste with garlic powder and black pepper.

Coat well with flour.

Heat cooking to 350 degrees.

Cook until golden brown.

Do not over cook.

It should be tender, moist and have the color consistency of golden fried chicken when properly cooked.

Serve with your favorite sauce.

Courtesy of RecipeZaar

Video(s) of Interest:

Since it's USF tonight in Tampa, here's Pat White's highlights from the USF game his freshman year:

And 15 more of his more impressive touchdown runs:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

This week at BCS Headquarters:

Halloween Gallery of the Week:

With Halloween tomorrow, where better to celebrate than at Hef's place? A big thanks to Coed Magazine for making this section easy this week.

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is one of the most gorgeous women in the world today. Damn you, Justin Timberlake. Join me as we pay homage to Miss Jessica Biel. BONUS LINK: The only minute or so ever worth watching of Ellen.

via cm1.theinsider.com

Budweiser images via prhchamberonline.com and hoboken411.com

Daily Links - Can The Orange Possibly Pull The Upset?

Sean Keeley — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:35:12 -0000

Syracuse-Cincinnati: How Upset-Minded Orange Can Derail Bearcats' Dream Season | Bleacher Report
If the Orange are to pull a stunning upset on Saturday, there are a few key things that they absolutely must do.

Three Idiots on Sports: Cincinnati Ranked 4th - By Kige
Kige ranks his top 10 college teams and Syracuse's opponent, the Cincinnati Bearcats, come in at a muffled number 4.

QB nobody wanted now running Cincinnati
Zach Collaros was the high school quarterback who wouldn't lose. But when it came time to pick a college, he got a surprise. Almost nobody wanted him.

What to watch in the Big East, Week 9 - Big East - ESPN
Mike Williams vs. Mardy Gilyard: Who's the best receiver in the Big East?

Binns goes from shadows to spotlight for Cincinnati - Big East - ESPN
Armon Binns has emerged as the Bearcats' No. 2 receiver of late, catching four touchdown passes in his last three games.

Hopeless Walk On: I DID LEGS! And, I'm a total absolute Idiot...
Hey, how is the Hopeless Walk-On doing in his quest to make the Syracuse football team?

Fans bring the Blue and Gray where it’s needed most : The Georgetown Voice
Last Valentine’s Day, Georgetown and Syracuse met in the latest battle in their ongoing men’s basketball feud. Whenever ESPN’s cameras panned the crowd, it looked like a living Tropicana ad, wave after wave of orange filling the Carrier Dome’s more than 30,000 seats.

Basketball tournament to raise money for the hungry - News
On Sunday, Project Feed Me will sponsor its second annual "Defend Your Honor" charity basketball tournament from 1 to 6 p.m. at Archbold Gymnasium.

It’s no Siena but it’ll do - Cuse Country
Last night was Jonny’s first game as a Minnesota Timberwolf, and while he did not quite set any records, he did lead the team in scoring (18 points) and lead them to a win over New Jersey.

Villanova by the Numbers: Preview 2009-10 -- Syracuse Orange
A preview of the 2009-2010 Syracuse Orange, who will be without "Erick" Devendorf.

PODCAST: Big East and National Wrap-up on The Sports Fix | Fantasy College Blitz
Vince chimes in on the Mike Williams saga at Syracuse, BCS chaos and the impressive Pitt Panthers on Matt McCluskey’s SportsFix on WNER 1410 ESPN Radio.

UConn announces Howard tribute plans for Saturday - Big East - ESPN
With Saturday's contest against Rutgers being the first home game for UConn since the Jasper Howard slaying, the Huskies are planning several tributes to their former teammate.

Carmelo Anthony. Paul Millsap. Two shall enter. One shall leave.

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Wednesday (10/14/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:44:47 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Grant's Anvil Head Ale.

It's Wednesday of "I Wouldn't Wear Green, Even If You Paid Me Week". I picked today's sponsor because I feel like I'm beating my head against an anvil with the same stories by different writers. Each week, the writers get together and choose the angles to be covered that week. It seems the stories of this week include:

"Rivalry or No?"
"To Schedule or Not to Schedule"
"The Sweater Vest and What it Means"
"Jock Sanders Speaks"

I think that's as creative as most of the writers will get this week and will beat these to death. Send in your tips and requests and I'll see you after the jump.

What You May Have Missed:

Bill Stewart: Tuesday Press Conference - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Stew's Views: Herd Enough - BlueGoldNews.com

Football: Selected Player Quotes - MSNsportsNET.Com

Big East stock report, Week 7 - Big East - ESPN

News of Note:

Jock Talks - MSNsportsNET.Com
Jock Sanders talks to the media for the first time since his suspension.

It's been a season to remember for Sanders - Charleston Gazette

Jock Sanders glad to be helping team - Charleston Daily Mail

Sanders breaks silence, gives first interview - Times West Virginian

West Virginia's Berry slowly recovering - PPG
Berry did, in fact, play a bit against Syracuse. Bring him back slow and easy is fine with me, given the schedule and getting the other guys experience.

'Elusive' Brown worries Herd 'D' - Charleston Gazette

Hamrick steps into Marshall-WVU circus - Charleston Gazette

WVU notes: It's a rivalry for Stewart - Charleston Gazette
"barring injuries or something else unforeseen, the five true freshmen who have played this season will probably be the only ones who aren't redshirted." The list is inside.

MU notes: Snyder says 'the onus is on us' - Charleston Gazette

Stewart says Coal Bowl will be a close one - Charleston Daily Mail
Good lord, we all hope not.

Coal Bowl leaves a void on future WVU, Marshall schedules - Charleston Daily Mail
Can we not talk about this for just one week?

Herd needs WVU more - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

West Virginia the spot for star running backs this week - Big East - ESPN

Stewart not superstitious despite appearances - Times West Virginian
I will freely admit that I am very superstitious.

Stewart making fashion statement - Register-Herald

Don’t expect unexpected - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Stewart: Strong start is key for WVU - Inter-Mountain

What's On Tap:

Mountaineer Madness - MSNsportsNET.Com

Men's Basketball: Priority Deadline Friday - MSNsportsNET.Com

Around the League (and Beyond):

BIG EAST Slate: Week 7 - WVIllustrated.com

To Paulus Or Not To Paulus - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Smith, Jennings face added charges; Jennings issues apology - Card Chronicle

Gilyard: Bearcats fired up for USF - Cincinnati Enquirer
"Coaches from both schools have downplayed the Joe Tresey angle in Thursday’s matchup between No. 8 Cincinnati and No. 21 South Florida, but UC wide receiver Mardy Gilyard isn’t buying it."

Pittsburgh's aerial attack will present a tall test for Rutgers - Star Ledger

Bulls must show they can handle success - Tampa Tribune

Pitt Notebook: Rutgers' pressure will test Panthers blockers - PPG

Bradley chooses UConn - TheUConnBlog.com
Though they just got a committ from a 6'9" 200 lb center. Isn't that a bit small?

Countdown: 31 - TheUConnBlog.com
They're so excited about football that they're counting down the days until the BB opener against the Deaf and Blind Sisters of the Poor.

New Mexico Lobos coach Mike Locksley suspended 1 game - ESPN
The winless coach is suspended for 10 days.

Irish Albatross - ESPN

Michigan QB Tate Forcier's brother says shoulder injury is serious - Detroit Free Press
"Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday he doesn't think quarterback Tate Forcier's injured shoulder is a problem, even though Forcier's older brother, Jason, told the campus newspaper, The Michigan Daily, that it is a big issue."

Forde Yard Dash - ESPN
"From Dallas, Domers and defense to midweek madness and the Moscow miracle, The Dash runs through it all."

Video of Interest:

Courtesy of our friends at WVIllustrated.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Which is better, Norwegian ribbons or bodypaint? Discuss.

Sweet Tooth Gallery of the Day:

Or maybe candy outfits?

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a beautiful combination of Italian/Native American descent. Here is Vanessa Raia.

via www.laurenbuccigrossi.com

Grant's Anvil Head image via www.bruguru.com

Well…We’re Movin on up

MBoz126 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:15:02 -0000

These are players I have been amazed by at some point of this young season. Feel free to inform me of players you feel should be on here, because I’m open ears at this point of the season.

Ryan Matthews
Fresno State- Running Back
NFL Comparison - Ryan Grant

At 220 pounds, Matthews is a tough runner, that is capable of cracking a huge run on any carry. I’ll admit I didn’t know who he was until I watched the Wisconsin game a few weeks back.

The nation's leading rusher has put up 592 yards in the first four games this season. He has five runs of 55 yards or more. In week three vs. Boise State, he ran the ball 19 times for 234 yards and 3 touchdowns (69, 68 and 60 yards). This last week, Matthews showed he is more than capable of handling the work load, with 40 offensive touches. He finished with 177 total yards of offense, verse a tough Cincinnati defense. Keep your eye on Matthews this season, because I don’t see him slowing down a bit. Fresno has a very weak remaining schedule, so Matthews should finish with some huge 2009 numbers and have a decision to make about his future.

Eric Norwood
South Carolina - Outside linebacker
NFL Comparison - LaMar Woodley

Norwood is a player I thought had the talent to leave early last year, but he has put himself into position to land a much fatter paycheck in the 2010 NFL draft. I decided to wait until the Ole Miss game to make my final evaluation of Norwood before I put him on this list. He came into the game with 4 sacks and a pick for six. He dominated the Ole Miss offense. He added two more sacks (6 on the year), partially blocked a punt, and commanded a double/triple team the rest of the game. Eric Berry is my favorite player in all of football, but I won’t be a bit surprised if Eric Norwood is the SEC player of the year. Big props to my man Mocking Dan…He gave everyone a huge heads up last week….This guy is a player.

Alterraun Verner My NFL Mock Draft- #32 to the Pats
UCLA- Cornerback
NFL Comparison - Asante Samuel

Yes, I’m still big on Verner. More than likely Verner is a zone guy. He reads routes well, and is the type of corner that likes to look at the QB in his back pedal. Verner has had 3 picks in the last two games, with a nice 24 yard average on returns. Corners like Verner don’t usual go in the first or second round, but I am one that feels this guy will perform well at the next level. I don’t feel this class is stacked at the position, so he has a chance to sneak up on draft boards.

Marshawn Gilyard
Cincinnati- Wide receiver
NFL Comparison- Eddie Royal

After the first four games, Gilyard has 32 catches, 442 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also has a punt return for a touchdown. He is a very explosive player that knows how to get open. I had him ranked higher than most before the 2009 season, but I'm even higher on him now, as continues to make plays every time I see him. I agree with Mocking Dan, that he probably isn’t a number one. I still think because of his return ability and the need for an explosive receiver, he will land in the first or very early second round. I think he will be an Eddie Royal/ Santonio Holmes type of player at the next level.

Keep an eye on

Montario Hardesty
Tennessee- Running back NFL Comparison- Julius Jones

Hardesty is a hard runner. He has made it very hard for prized freshman Bryce Brown to steal carries. No one in the country has run harder or done more for his team than Hardesty. Playing in an offense that has no chance of stretching the field, Hardesty’s hard nose running has put him seventh in the nation in yards (485). After battling knee injuries, this guy has proven he is worthy of being evaluated by NFL teams. If he continues to impress verse the tough SEC teams, Hardesty could be a big surprise when it comes to draft day evaluations.

DeAndre McDaniel
Clemson- Safety NFL Comparison- Antonie Bethea

Capable of covering a ton of ground, McDaniel caught my eye early in the Thursday night game vs. GTech week two. He plays the deep ball well, and has great hands for a defensive back. With four picks in 2009, McDaniel has shown he is more than just a ballhawk. He has 35 tackles in the first four games and shown he can deliver big time hits. The safety class in loaded in the 2010 draft, but if McDaniel continues his impressive play, he might leave early and be worth a high 2010 draft pick.

Mardy Gilyard: Electric. Dangerous. Best Wide Receiver in the Big East.

Jake Bertalotto — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:00:23 -0000

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

3 months ago: Cincinnati punt returner Mardy Gilyard returns a punt 53-yards for a touchdown against Southeast Missouri State in the first half of a college football game, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Browse more photos »

Electric.

Dangerous.

Best Wide Receiver in the Big East.

All of the above has been used to describe Cincinnati senior receiver Mardy Gilyard,

The man can truly do it all. In last Saturday's 70-3 win for Cincinnati, Gilyard scored on a 53-yard punt return, a 1-yard rush, and was twice on the receiving end of touchdown passes--all in the first half. The last player in FBS college football to score on a a punt return, a rush, and a pass in the same game was Maurice (Jones-Drew) of UCLA back in 2005. Granted, this was against Southeast Missouri State, but it's was still an impressive night and shows just what the 6-1, 180 pound Gilyard is capable of. He had 197 all-purpose yards in the game.

On special teams, Gilyard was best known last year for his kickoff returning ability a year ago. He set a school record with 994 kickoff return yards, scored two touchdowns, and was named the Big East Special Teams Player of the Year as well. This year, he's obviously already expanded his resume with the touchdown on a punt return.

He was on the receiving end of 11 touchdowns in his junior campaign, and racked up yet another school record-- 1,276 receiving yards over the course of the season.

Gilyard is a versatile threat to score on nearly any offensive play, as his quickness and agility make him skilled at getting separation. Some even draw comparisions between Gilyard and ex-OSU wide receiver Chad Johnson Ochocinco, like Tom O'Brien of the Bearcats Examiner:

Mardy Gilyard's physical stature is similar to a very accomplished NFL wide receiver Cincinnati fans are quite familiar with - Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson. Enhancing Gilyard's already high draft potential are his speed, great hands and explosive ability. Entering the NFL, Chad Johnson ran a 4.54 at the 2001 combine. Gilyard's 40 yard dash time, according to CBS Sports, is 4.51.

Gilyard, who came to Cincinnati as a cornerback under previous head coach Mark Dantonio, has an obvious passion for the game and thrives in Coach Kelly's offense.

"When I get the game plan, I start licking my lips."

Gilyard will definitely provide a tough matchup for Mark Banker's defense, which ranks 95th in passing defense out of 120 Division FBS teams through two weeks of games.

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)

2010 NFL Draft rankings: Wide receivers

Mocking Dan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:04:30 -0000

Like many of the positions for the 2010 NFL Draft, the senior class of wide receivers is pretty weak. Brandon LeFall of LSU leads a group that also includes Mardy Gilyard of Cincinnati and Eric Decker of Minnesota. After those three, the senior class is almost completely interchangeable.

Conversely, the junior class is stellar. That includes Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State), Arrelious Benn (Illinois), Damian Williams (USC), Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas) and Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech).

The best of them all is Bryant. He's a big athlete of a receiver. Hopefully his career doesn't replicate that of former Cowboys star Rashaun Woods.

Check out the wide receiver rankings here. Use this thread to offer your own rankings or discussion. After the positional rankings are complete, a top 200 will be put together. This will be done before the college football season begins.

CB | FS | SS | OLB | MLB | DT | DE | OT | TE | WR

The SB Nation Big East Football Preview

Sean Keeley — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:46:23 -0000

View full size photo »

The Big East is going to be mediocre this season.

I know, we're not supposed to say that. That's supposed to be the dirty, little secret that no one discusses despite the evidence to the contrary. However the closer we get to the start of the 2009 season the more undeniable it becomes. No Big East teams will begin the season in the major Top 25 Polls. Certainly, no Big East teams are being pegged for national title consideration. And try to find many Big East players on the All-American lists...you won't see many.

That said, this has the potential to be a defining season for the league. Cincinnati blew the doors off the notion that only old standbys such as Pitt and West Virginia could win the conference. Programs such as Rutgers as South Florida have the perfect opportunity to make the leap into the national picture. We might not see a 12-win team emerge from the conference but there is the possibility of seeing four or five 8-9 win teams when it's all said and done. Not to mention Syracuse's new era on their road back to respectability, every team has a chance to make this a season that will redefine their program.

The SbN Big East football bloggers (Louisville's Card Chronicle, Rutgers' Protect R Turf, West Virginia's The Smoking Musket and yours truly) wanted to delve deeper into the stories that will make up the Big East season. I posed some questions for them and here's what everyone had to say:

No one seems to have any idea who will win the Big East. In your mind, who are the top three teams and who's going BCS Bowling?

Protect R Turf: Can we just put everyone into a hat and decide that way (well, minus Syracuse and Louisville)? For the first time in a long time there’s no clear-cut favorite in the Big East (mostly thanks to the departure of Pat White) , and any one 5 teams could be headed to the BCS (6 if you really believe in UConn). With a conference this bunched together, you need to look for subtleties that could differentiate one team from another. And one of those subtleties is schedule….

That’s why I’m going with Rutgers as my 2009 Big East Conference Champion, heading to their 1st BCS game after 140 years of playing football. RU gets the top 4 other contenders (Pitt, WVU, Cincy, USF) at home, and travels to the lesser of the Big East teams (Louisville, UConn, Cuse). Yes, Rutgers has some glaring holes (mainly QB and WR), but so does every other team in the BE, and none of them have the schedule that RU has. I think that USF will be a close 2nd, and will avoid a late season meltdown (like the last 2 years), riding the hot hand of Matt Grothe. And even after losing Pat White, Jarrett Brown and Noel Devine will lead WVU to a respectable 3rd place finish in the conference.

The Smoking Musket: The top three teams in any league normally consist of the teams with the best defense, unless you’re in the Big 12. The top three teams and defenses in the Big East will be West Virginia, Pitt and South Florida. What will separate these teams and ultimately decide the Big East champ is the team that can step up and move the ball on offense.

While West Virginia struggled to find an offensive identity during the ’08 regular season. They emerged from the Car Care Bowl with an offensive attack that should put fear in the only two teams in the Big East that have been able to stop West Virginia in the past. West Virginia will emerge from the Big East schedule undefeated and go BCS bowling.

Card Chronicle: I'll take West Virginia , South Florida and Cincinnati . In a league painfully absent of offensive superstars, I'll pick the squad with the conference's most explosive player (Noel Devine) and a relatively proven quarterback (Jarrett Brown) to bring home the title, and that's the Mountaineers.

Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician: First off, I just don't see how anyone can discount Rutgers. Not that I think they're the most talented team in the conference (I don't), but there's just no way this team comes away with less than 10-wins this year. Their schedule could not possibly be better. The OOC schedule is as much a cakewalk as I've ever seen. Plus, they get every break imaginable in the conference schedule in terms of who they play at home. In a season where there is no elite team in the conference, it's the team with the easiest road that has the advantage.

I think South Florida finally breaks through as well this season. Last year was a disappointment for the Bulls and they have a collection of stars who are desperate to prove themselves (Grothe, Selvie) on the national stage. Finally I'll go with Pitt over West Virginia as my third team. The Panthers seem set up to be a perennial 8-win team for the next couple seasons. Maybe it's Wannstadt but I just see them as a good-not-great team.

Who is the most valuable player in the Big East this season? Not the best statistical player but the one who will impact how well or poorly his team will do?

Card Chronicle: I feel like it's been Grothe for the better part of the last decade, so give me whoever wins the QB job in Piscataway . Lovelace, Natale or whoever is going to have the best offensive line in the conference in front of him as well as a stud playmaker in Tim Brown and a solid defense, so performance at that position could easily be the difference between a league title and finishing somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Protect R Turf: Matt Grothe. Somehow Grothe gets overlooked game-in and game-out as one of the better QB’s in college football. For my money, Grothe is the QB I’d least like to see on the opposing team on Saturday afternoon. As Grothe goes, so will USF.

Case in Point: During USF’s 5-0 start to last season, Grothe had a total of 2 interceptions (and 8 TD’s). During USF’s 2-5 slide to finish the regular season Grothe threw 12 picks, compared to 7 TD’s. For the Bulls to have hopes of finishing the season on top in the Big East, Grothe needs to take the leadership role on his shoulders, play within himself (his sack-count rose right along with his INT rate during the slide), and avoid giving up the big plays.

The Smoking Musket: Jarrett Brown’s health and ability to throw the ball down field will make or break West Virginia’s season. Brown’s health is more important than his ability to throw the ball because of WVU’s lack of depth at the QB position. If he goes down with an injury WVU will be lucky if it makes it to a bowl game at the end of the season.

However, If Brown can prevent teams from stacking the box, Noel Devine will run circles around Big East defenses. West Virginia will be praying every night that Brown stays healthy and throw the ball down the field with some efficiency.

TNIAAM: I have to go with Grothe. His success and failures seem to mirror the direction of the entire program. The problem for USF is that he's got a little bit of older Bretty Favre in him. For every game he wins you, he also loses you one. He's as capable of a 4-TD performance as he is a 4-INT one. Whether or not he's gotten his game where it needs to be is going to be the key storyline for the Bulls and possibly the Big East.

Who has a better chance of getting back to a bowl game in the next 2-3 years... Syracuse or Louisville ?

Card Chronicle: Louisville . They have better players, and if they don't go bowling this year they'll have a coach who just may be more equipped to properly mold that talent.

Protect R Turf: Syracuse. For as bad as Syracuse has been, they own wins over Louisville in the last 2 seasons. Plus, the Cuse seems to have turned a corner with the hiring of Doug Marrone, and putting the Greg Robinson era to rest. SU showed me something last season while rallying around Robinson to beat ND, while the lasting image from Louisville’s season in my mind is the historic thrashing they took in Piscataway for the season finale. Steve Kragthorpe better get it turned around quick in 2009, or in 2010 he won’t have a team to turn-around.

The Smoking Musket: This is an easy question to answer because Kragthrope is going to fired after another disappointing season which means Louisville will be back in rebuilding mode for another 3 or 4 years.

Syracuse made an excellent hire with alum and fellow tough guy, Doug Marrone. Marrone has a lot of work ahead of him but the tradition and lure of playing early should get him a lot of talented recruits in the next 2-3 years.

TNIAAM: Call me biased but I'll say Syracuse. If for no other reason than that they have a head start. The Orange have already dumped their lame duck coach and replaced him with a guy who not only knows the program inside and out but also has made returning Syracuse to glory his mission in life. Marrone has said "I cannot fail," not just because he wants to be successful but because the success of the program is that important to him.

Louisville still another season of Kragthorpe to suffer through before they shuffle him loose. They're a year behind.

Which Big East team has the widest win/loss margin (i.e. could finish 10-2, could finish 3-9, no one knows...)?

Card Chronicle: Because of the unknowns at quarterback and running back, I'll go Rutgers . Again, they have the best O-line in the Big East, but that alone won't put points on the board. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Scarlet Knights finish first or seventh.

Protect R Turf: I’ll go with Pittsburgh. I just don’t see the hype surrounding the Panthers this season. Maybe I’m swayed by that UGLY sun bowl loss to Oregon State last year, or the fact that they still don’t have a dependable QB, but I just don’t see the Panthers in the top half of the Big East this year. I’d think differently if they had Shady McCoy to touch the ball 30 times a game, but that’s not the case anymore. I’ve seen numerous publications select the Panthers as the Big East Champs, and I’m putting them in the bottom half of the league, so I’d say that qualifies as a pretty wild win/loss margin. Would it honestly surprise you if you turned on ESPN Saturday afternoon and saw that Pitt had lost to ___________________(fill-in-the-blank with Youngstown State, Buffalo, or NC State)?

The Smoking Musket: Cincinnati is the team with most questions marks because it basically has to replace the leagues best defense from a year ago. While the offense has some fire power a young and inexperienced defense could lead to a lot of trouble.

If they pull together as a unit this Cincinnati has enough talent to win the league. However, if they falter early and lose confidence they could finish just slightly ahead of Syracuse and Louisville.

TNIAAM: I'll go with Cincinnati as well. I do not know what to make of them. Last year's defense was among the best in the league. Guess what...that entire defense is gone. Sure, the offense still has some solid weapons, such as Tony Pike and Marty Gilyard, but its the defense that's going to missed sorely. They could win 8-games, they could wn four...I wouldn't be shocked either way.

Tony Pike or Matt Grothe?

Card Chronicle: Grothe on the football field, Pike if we're spending a quiet Wednesday evening at home.

Protect R Turf: Matt Grothe, everyday of the week. I’m not a Tony Pike hater (hey, the guy got the team to the Orange Bowl), but the team played several different guys when he was hurt last year and still won. If Pike repeats last year’s performance, maybe I change my mind, but in regards to talent and playmaking ability, I gotta go with Grothe.

The Smoking Musket: Tony Pike for the simple fact that he will be throwing to the best receiver in the Big East, Mardy Gilyard. Grothe may have more mobility but Pike has the weapons and is finally healthy enough to truly show what he is capable of.

TNIAAM: I like Grothe's potential, which is probably much greater than Pike's. But Pike's the guy who actually proved he came come through so far. If I'm building a long-term team, I think I want to take a chance on Grothe. If I'm picking a QB to win me one game...I'm going Pike.

What are the most likely games a Big East team will lose against a non-BCS opponent?

Card Chronicle: Louisville going down at Utah is pretty much a given and Syracuse/Akron might be a toss-up, but as far as losses that might actually surprise people, how about Pitt/Navy? Yes, the Panthers are the preseason pick to represent the league in the BCS, but they went 9-3 a year ago and still lost to Bowling Green at home.

If you're not buying that, then pretend I said Cincinnati/Fresno State.

Protect R Turf: Let’s get this out in the open: Louisville is going to lose to Utah. No ifs, ands, or buts about that one.

Other then that there’s a handful of games that the Big East teams better bring their A-games for. Here’s my top 3 potential upsets:

1.    Pittsburgh at Buffalo: The Panthers struggled with the Bulls last year, and that was at home
2.    Cincy vs. Fresno State: Just ask Rutgers how difficult the Bulldogs can be
3.    WVU vs. East Carolina: Could Lightning strike twice for the Pirates

The Smoking Musket: Southern Miss and Utah will destroy Louisville.

TNIAAM: Utah over Louisville in a very easy answer to that question. Southern Miss probably has a pretty decent shot as well at beating the Cardinals. Last season Akron put a whooping on Syracuse so there's always a chance that could go down again. Finally, you've got frisky East Carolina against West Virginia...you can't ever count the Pirates out in that match-up.

It might not be ideal, but is the Gator Bowl & Sun Bowl's Big East + Notre Dame arrangement still a better deal for the Big East than the alternatives?

Card Chronicle: Yes, because I think right now the alternatives all involve games with "dot com" in the titles.

Protect R Turf: Your right, its not ideal at all. But what are the alternatives? There’s not too much out there right now (and with the economy down, not sure there will be too many new bowls added in the near future).

I think the best case scenario for the Big East would be to establish a firm tie-in with the Gator Bowl, and drop the Sun. The 2nd place BE team/or ND would then play on New Years Day in the Gator Bowl, while the 3rd place team went to another "lesser" bowl, (say the Eagle Bank Bowl in DC). Then you could keep 2 or all 3 current ties with the Papajohns.com, International, and Meineke Bowls. The bowl situation in the BE is a mess and there’s no easy way to fix it. Hopefully with ND as some leverage, Commissioner Marinatto can institute some changes in the next few years.

The Smoking Musket: No, Notre Dame needs to get in or get out. They have not been relevant since they beat WVU for a national championship in ’89. They keep all their bowl money and steal good bowl trips from deserving Big East teams.

Plus, Jacksonville is a terrible bowl destination. Lets sign up with the Champs Sports Bowl and tell Notre Dame to find another conference to leach off of.

TNIAAM: I think that unfortunately, until the conference proves itself worthy of a better setup, the Notre Dame arrangement is going to have to work. If it's the difference between our teams mostly playing third tier bowls every year or having a shot at quality bowls with the understanding that Notre Dame might take a spot every so often, you have to make that sacrifice...for now. Once we establish more of a pecking order and get some teams into a consistent, elite level, then we can break off on our own.

Big East expansion talk is boring and ultimately fruitless. That said, if all options were on the table, what teams would you want to join the conference and how big would you make it?

Card Chronicle: All options? Then let's take Notre Dame and another pair of perennial powerhouses and roll with 11 teams.

Since that's not going to happen, the league needs to take the best available option (East Carolina, Florida International, Phoenix University) and then drop either Seton Hall or DePaul in basketball because having an eight-game conference schedule in football is just more important than watching the Blue Demons or Pirates get thrashed once a year on the first day of the Big East Tournament.

Plus, no more Bobby Gonzalez.

Protect R Turf: Personally, I’d take the Big East to a 10 team conference. I know that 12 teams are needed for a conference championship game, but I don’t think that the BE necessarily needs that.

I’d take Maryland and Boston College from the ACC and have them pick up Memphis (making them even better in basketball) and USF (for geographical purposes). That makes 9 for the Big East, plus ND would make 10. Tell ND to either join in football, or they can geeeeeettttt outttttttttttt in the other sports. Maryland and BC bring some good stuff to hoops too, though you’d probably have to let Depaul go (Boo-hoo) to make room in basketball.

That’s my plan and I’m sticking to it.

The Smoking Musket: The league needs 12 teams and to hold the championship game in New York City at the new Giants stadium. I think it is highly relevant to talk expansion and conference shake-ups. In the next 10 years the landscape of college sports will look completely different than the way it does now.

The Big East needs to add Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan. While I would like to kick out USF a trip to Florida is a great recruiting tool for all league schools. The money and attention this league would generate would be somewhat competitive with the SEC.

TNIAAM: I don't think the Big East necessarily needs to go to the whole 9 yards here and expand to 12 teams. But I think it's reasonable for expect every BCS team to be at least ten teams. The best solution for the Big East involves maintaining some semblance of balance with the basketball counterpart, so ideally you want the new teams to already be a part of the conference.

So for me, the first step is to get Notre Dame in. The credibility of having that program would be better than anything else we could do. Second, I would put whatever resources were available into turning Villanova in to a 1-A football program. The Big East needs to have a team in the Philly area, it's a huge city and a hub for the conference. Plus, any concerns about how long they'll be in the basement can be squashed by pointing to USF and UConn, who made the jump to respectability in seemingly-record time.

Will every Big East head coach still be roaming the sidelines in 2010? If not, who's out?

Card Chronicle: I foresee the Steve Kragthorpe era at Louisville coming to a merciful end, but that will probably be the only casualty. There's a little pressure on Jim Leavitt, but South Florida would have to implode even more than usual for him to get the boot.

Protect R Turf: Sorry Mr. Kragthorpe, please pack your bags and hit the road. Without a .500 season (at least) at Louisville I don’t see Steve returning for the 2010 season. The fans at UL have turned on Kragthorpe after last year’s debacle (and why shouldn’t they), and it won’t be too long before the administration does as well.

Keep an eye on Bill Stewart as well. If things go horribly wrong in Morgantown he could very well be looking for a new job come 2010 (though I don’t foresee that happening).

The Smoking Musket: Steve Kragthorpe will be gone before the end of the season. It is sad and really hurts the Big East that Louisville has fallen so hard so fast but oh well.

TNIAAM: Just like Greg Robinson at Syracuse last season, there aren't very many people who expect to see Steve Kragthorpe survive this year at Louisville. It's shocking how quickly that program evaporated and the Big East can't afford to have too many teams down in the dumpster like them.

A bad season could put Bill Stewart on the hot seat, but he won't get fired this year, short of an 0-12 finish.

Give me your Big East bowl line-up at the end of the season (i.e. who's playing where)?

Card Chronicle:

West Virginia - Orange Bowl

South Florida - Meineke Car Care Bowl

Cincinnati - PapaJohns.com Bowl

Pittsburgh - International Bowl

Connecticut - Wild card in a bowl game I don't watch

Rutgers - St. Petersburg Bowl

Protect R Turf: Projecting bowls a month ahead of time is difficult, projecting bowls a season before is near impossible. There are too many variables (since bowls can select on a "drawing" basis, rather than a performance basis), and too many different scenarios. Here you go, though I know I probably left out/misaligned/added bowls:

BCS-Rutgers
Meineke- USF
International- Cincy
Papajohns- WVU
St. Petersburg- Pitt
At-Large- UConn

The Smoking Musket:

WVU v Florida – Sugar Bowl
Cincy v Ball State – International
Pitt v ECU – St. Petersburg
USF v Georgia Tech – Gator
Rutgers v. Central Michigan – Papa Johns
UConn v NC State – Car Care

TNIAAM: I've got Rutgers winning the conference and representing in the BCS Bowl. Then I've got USF in the Gator Bowl, Pitt in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, Cincy in the PapaJohns.com Bowl, UConn in the International Bowl and West Virginia in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Sadly for Syracuse and Louisville, another season on the outside looking in.

SB Nation - Mardy Gilyard

We're All Americans, But We're Not All All-Americans

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Thursday (12/3/09) Edition

What You May Have Missed:

News of Note (FB):

News of Note (BB):

Recruiting:

Around the League (and Beyond):

What's On Tap:

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Gift Suggestion Gallery of the Week:

Miss Throwdown:

Oh Yes, It's Upset Time: Previewing West Virginia @ Cincinnati

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Friday (10/30/09), USF Gameday Edition

What You May Have Missed:

News of Note:

Recruiting:

What's On Tap:

Around the League (and Beyond):

Tailgate Recipe of the Week:

Video(s) of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Halloween Gallery of the Week:

Miss Throwdown:

Daily Links - Can The Orange Possibly Pull The Upset?

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Wednesday (10/14/09) Edition

What You May Have Missed:

News of Note:

What's On Tap:

Around the League (and Beyond):

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Sweet Tooth Gallery of the Day:

Miss Throwdown:

Well…We’re Movin on up

Mardy Gilyard: Electric. Dangerous. Best Wide Receiver in the Big East.

2010 NFL Draft rankings: Wide receivers

The SB Nation Big East Football Preview

No one seems to have any idea who will win the Big East. In your mind, who are the top three teams and who's going BCS Bowling?

Who is the most valuable player in the Big East this season? Not the best statistical player but the one who will impact how well or poorly his team will do?

Who has a better chance of getting back to a bowl game in the next 2-3 years... Syracuse or Louisville ?

Tony Pike or Matt Grothe?

What are the most likely games a Big East team will lose against a non-BCS opponent?

It might not be ideal, but is the Gator Bowl & Sun Bowl's Big East + Notre Dame arrangement still a better deal for the Big East than the alternatives?

Big East expansion talk is boring and ultimately fruitless. That said, if all options were on the table, what teams would you want to join the conference and how big would you make it?

Will every Big East head coach still be roaming the sidelines in 2010? If not, who's out?

Give me your Big East bowl line-up at the end of the season (i.e. who's playing where)?