Coming off the heels of my comparison of the two worst BCS leagues—according to one expert’s rankings—today I re-visit the idea of how bad the Big East will be this year, according to more writers who have the name ‘expert’ tabbed on their business cards.
While I don’t claim to be a college football expert by any means, I know I’m much more informed and a much better arguer than Bill Kimm of NASCAR.com who made an absolutely ridiculous statement earlier this week. (Read his clip here: http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/features/08/04/head.2.head.jjohnson.free.pass/index.html) If I was in a NASCAR writing mood I’d consider ripping what little credibility Mr. Kimm’s argument has. If you’re a NASCAR fan then maybe you can already see what’s wrong with his arguments.
But, back to the more pressing issues of the day, college football, and more importantly, the Big East conference. I’ve been keeping tabs on the Yahoo! Sports/Rivals.com rankings throughout the summer. For the countdown check out this link: http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=954694
The UC Bearcats came in at #33 overall, not bad considering the fact that we have to replace 10 starters on defense. The only two other Big East teams that came in ahead of us were South Florida at #25 and West Virginia at #19.
While I don’t claim to be a college football expert by any means, I know I’m much more informed and a much better arguer than Bill Kimm of NASCAR.com who made an absolutely ridiculous statement earlier this week. (Read his clip here: http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/features/08/04/head.2.head.jjohnson.free.pass/index.html) If I was in a NASCAR writing mood I’d consider ripping what little credibility Mr. Kimm’s argument has. If you’re a NASCAR fan then maybe you can already see what’s wrong with his arguments.
But, back to the more pressing issues of the day, college football, and more importantly, the Big East conference. I’ve been keeping tabs on the Yahoo! Sports/Rivals.com rankings throughout the summer. For the countdown check out this link: http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=954694
The UC Bearcats came in at #33 overall, not bad considering the fact that we have to replace 10 starters on defense. The only two other Big East teams that came in ahead of us were South Florida at #25 and West Virginia at #19.
This sparked an open discussion between Rivals.com writers Olin Buchanan, Tom Dienhart, David Fox, Mike Huguenin and Steve Megargee about the Big East. Would any Big East team finish in the top twenty at season’s end?
Well, history says, “At least one team currently in the Big East has finished in the top 20 every season since 2004,” Buchanan writes. “After all,” he continues, “Cincinnati's 11-3 showing last season was something of a surprise. I wouldn't bet on a Big East team to contend for the national title, but getting one team in the top 20 doesn't seem too unlikely.” Well, that’s a plus, right?
Not so much. Let the Big East bashing commence. He finished with, “If it doesn't happen, that would add fuel to the Mountain West Conference's argument to be included as an automatic qualifier for a BCS bowl.”
Put the nails in the coffin, the Big East is dead.
David Fox offered this; “The Big East's worst nightmare is a possibility, but I doubt that will happen. There’s not a top-15 team in this conference, but there are five candidates who could fit in the 15-25 range.” Well, I guess that’s an okay scenario. No top fifteen teams but we could potentially put two or three within the last ten spots of the poll. That’d save some face for the Big East. As long as Buchanan doesn’t get to continue his Mountain West promoting.
But Olin Buchanan isn’t the only one touting the Mountain West. “I think each Big East team will have at least three losses, and I don't think, given the relative strength of the other leagues, that a Big East team is going to finish in the regular-season top 20,” wrote Mike Hueguenin. “I think things could get mighty interesting in December, when a nine-win Big East team is guaranteed a BCS slot and an 11-win Mountain West team could be on the outside looking in.”
Well, history says, “At least one team currently in the Big East has finished in the top 20 every season since 2004,” Buchanan writes. “After all,” he continues, “Cincinnati's 11-3 showing last season was something of a surprise. I wouldn't bet on a Big East team to contend for the national title, but getting one team in the top 20 doesn't seem too unlikely.” Well, that’s a plus, right?
Not so much. Let the Big East bashing commence. He finished with, “If it doesn't happen, that would add fuel to the Mountain West Conference's argument to be included as an automatic qualifier for a BCS bowl.”
Put the nails in the coffin, the Big East is dead.
David Fox offered this; “The Big East's worst nightmare is a possibility, but I doubt that will happen. There’s not a top-15 team in this conference, but there are five candidates who could fit in the 15-25 range.” Well, I guess that’s an okay scenario. No top fifteen teams but we could potentially put two or three within the last ten spots of the poll. That’d save some face for the Big East. As long as Buchanan doesn’t get to continue his Mountain West promoting.
But Olin Buchanan isn’t the only one touting the Mountain West. “I think each Big East team will have at least three losses, and I don't think, given the relative strength of the other leagues, that a Big East team is going to finish in the regular-season top 20,” wrote Mike Hueguenin. “I think things could get mighty interesting in December, when a nine-win Big East team is guaranteed a BCS slot and an 11-win Mountain West team could be on the outside looking in.”
Last year the Big East champs had 11 wins, but let's not mention that. The Mountain West is, after all, a much better conference for football
I know Utah won the Sugar Bowl last year, but seriously men, do we need to say the Big East is worse than Mountain West? I guess they get paid to express their opinions. Maybe I need to be on payroll somewhere so people will respect me as an “expert.”
Steve Megargee wrote, “The Big East doesn't figure to have any elite teams this season. It wouldn't surprise me if the league champion had four losses…I'll be surprised if any Big East team lands in the top 10, but I would guess somebody from that conference finishes somewhere in the high teens.” Another luke warm reception for the Big East.
What will it take for the Big East to gain national respect? Well, as I stated on Tuesday all it would have taken was West Virginia to beat Pittsburgh in 2007 and head to the national title game (where, in my opinion, they would have throttled the Ohio State Buckeyes) to gain some respect for the Big East.
Take it or leave it folks, how you see the Big East is up to you, but if you are a fan of Big East football then I’m just telling you something you already know. It’s going to take years for a Big East team to make it to a national title game because of the perception that the Big East is a weak league.
Even if Rutgers, UC, West Virginia or even USF were to run the table this year and go undefeated, they’d probably be left out of the national title game where two teams with one loss will duke it out. And then, well, then maybe the guys at Rivals will write about how the Big East got screwed.
And we can all point to this article and say, “Wow, he was right.” (Probability of that happening is very low, but hey, let me have my dreams.)
Even if Rutgers, UC, West Virginia or even USF were to run the table this year and go undefeated, they’d probably be left out of the national title game where two teams with one loss will duke it out. And then, well, then maybe the guys at Rivals will write about how the Big East got screwed.
And we can all point to this article and say, “Wow, he was right.” (Probability of that happening is very low, but hey, let me have my dreams.)
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