(Coming soon...Fresno State photos)
The college game is known for great in-state rivalry games, and although Jake and I may never see our teams play their biggest in-state rivals (Ohio State for UC, and Penn State for Pittsburgh) on a regular basis, week two for the Big East features two in-state “rivalry” games.
Here’s the week two schedule, and all eight Big East teams are in action.
Here’s the week two schedule, and all eight Big East teams are in action.
Week 2 Big East Schedule
Fri., Sept 10- West Virginia at Marshall
Sat., Sept 11-USF at Florida
Sept 11-Syracuse at Washington
Sept 11-Cincinnati vs Indiana State
Sept 11-Connecticut vs Texas Southern
Sept 11-Pittsburgh vs New Hampshire
Sept 11-Louisville vs Eastern Kentucky
Sept. 11-Rutgers at Florida International
Fri., Sept 10- West Virginia at Marshall
Sat., Sept 11-USF at Florida
Sept 11-Syracuse at Washington
Sept 11-Cincinnati vs Indiana State
Sept 11-Connecticut vs Texas Southern
Sept 11-Pittsburgh vs New Hampshire
Sept 11-Louisville vs Eastern Kentucky
Sept. 11-Rutgers at Florida International
AN: Jake, other than the two in-state games, and Syracuse’s travel to Washington, this week pretty much looks like a Big East scrimmage week. Your thoughts on Pitt’s matchup with the UNH Wildcats…
JM: Adam, you know how much I dislike playing 1-AA, I mean FCS, teams especially when that matchup happens after week one. I can deal with a week one scrimmage, as it can help ease the team back into playing competitive football but after then there is nothing to gain. The only thing this game can do is hurt Pitt. They will be expected to win, and if they don’t will be the subject of much hand-wringing and ridicule.
That being said, I see no way Pitt loses to UNH. Not only is UNH an FCS team, they aren’t even one of the best FCS teams. The real drama in this game will be seeing how many points Dion Lewis and crew can put on the board as Pitt will roll in this one. Adam, how bad of a beat-down are the Bearcats going to give the Sycamores?
AN: OK, so I hate to do this, but last year in late August Indiana State lost to Quincy 26-20. One week later Quincy got steamrolled by Southeast Missouri State 72-3. In Brian Kelly’s final home opener as Cincinnati head coach, the Bearcats took SEMO for their own 70 point excursion, defeating the Redhawks 70-3.
My point being, if UC doesn’t beat Indiana State, who only has won one game in three seasons, by at least 50 points, then something is wrong. It’ll basically be a scrimmage for the ‘Cats in Butch Jones’s first home game as head coach of the two-time defending Big East champs.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that it’s also a homecoming game of sorts for Jesse Minter, who coaches defensive backs for the Sycamores. Minter, the son of former UC head coach Rick Minter, was a graduate assistant under Brian Kelly for two years (2007 and 2008) on the defensive side of the ball. And Rick Minter will be coaching at Indiana State as well.
Jake, which game in week two strikes you as a must see?
JM: Country roads, take me home to… The West Virginia Coal Association Friends of Coal Bowl. Trailers and Shanties all throughout West Virginia will be home to folks glued to their black and white television sets and/or transistor radios to follow this recently re-ignited in-state rivalry. West Virginia has dominated the series, going 9-0 all time and should be expected to do the same this year.
The game is in Huntington, at Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards Stadium which could potentially be a problem for the Mountaineers as they leave Morgantown for the first time in 2010. New Marshall head coach Doc Holliday has extensive ties to WVU having graduated from there in 1979 and having spent more than 20 years of his career as a coach there. Maybe in the future Holliday’s squad will have a chance against the Mountaineers, but not this year. Expect WVU to win and win big. Adam, what game has piqued your interest in week two?
AN: Well, as much as I love John Denver’s “Country Roads”, the Citrus State showdown between USF and Florida will quickly test the mettle of Skip Holtz’s USF squad. Florida will have John Brantley IV at quarterback replacing the all-time great Tim Tebow.
JM: Adam, you know how much I dislike playing 1-AA, I mean FCS, teams especially when that matchup happens after week one. I can deal with a week one scrimmage, as it can help ease the team back into playing competitive football but after then there is nothing to gain. The only thing this game can do is hurt Pitt. They will be expected to win, and if they don’t will be the subject of much hand-wringing and ridicule.
That being said, I see no way Pitt loses to UNH. Not only is UNH an FCS team, they aren’t even one of the best FCS teams. The real drama in this game will be seeing how many points Dion Lewis and crew can put on the board as Pitt will roll in this one. Adam, how bad of a beat-down are the Bearcats going to give the Sycamores?
AN: OK, so I hate to do this, but last year in late August Indiana State lost to Quincy 26-20. One week later Quincy got steamrolled by Southeast Missouri State 72-3. In Brian Kelly’s final home opener as Cincinnati head coach, the Bearcats took SEMO for their own 70 point excursion, defeating the Redhawks 70-3.
My point being, if UC doesn’t beat Indiana State, who only has won one game in three seasons, by at least 50 points, then something is wrong. It’ll basically be a scrimmage for the ‘Cats in Butch Jones’s first home game as head coach of the two-time defending Big East champs.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that it’s also a homecoming game of sorts for Jesse Minter, who coaches defensive backs for the Sycamores. Minter, the son of former UC head coach Rick Minter, was a graduate assistant under Brian Kelly for two years (2007 and 2008) on the defensive side of the ball. And Rick Minter will be coaching at Indiana State as well.
Jake, which game in week two strikes you as a must see?
JM: Country roads, take me home to… The West Virginia Coal Association Friends of Coal Bowl. Trailers and Shanties all throughout West Virginia will be home to folks glued to their black and white television sets and/or transistor radios to follow this recently re-ignited in-state rivalry. West Virginia has dominated the series, going 9-0 all time and should be expected to do the same this year.
The game is in Huntington, at Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards Stadium which could potentially be a problem for the Mountaineers as they leave Morgantown for the first time in 2010. New Marshall head coach Doc Holliday has extensive ties to WVU having graduated from there in 1979 and having spent more than 20 years of his career as a coach there. Maybe in the future Holliday’s squad will have a chance against the Mountaineers, but not this year. Expect WVU to win and win big. Adam, what game has piqued your interest in week two?
AN: Well, as much as I love John Denver’s “Country Roads”, the Citrus State showdown between USF and Florida will quickly test the mettle of Skip Holtz’s USF squad. Florida will have John Brantley IV at quarterback replacing the all-time great Tim Tebow.
Fun news of the day...You can now follow Tim Tebow on Twitter (or you can just stick to following me @adamniemeyer)
USF walked in to Doak Campbell Stadium last year and beat the Florida State Seminoles 17-7, which made the Bulls claim they have made it as one of the “Big 3” in Florida. If USF wants to keep claiming they’ve arrived as a big time Sunshine State program, they’ll need to beat Florida. And if they want to know how likely it is that they’ll defeat the Urban Meyer led Gator squad they should ask their Big East brethren Cincinnati.
Maybe folks remember watching the Sugar Bowl. Or maybe folks turned it off at halftime when the game was all but over with the Gators leading the Bearcats 30-3. Either way, I don’t see USF heading into the Swamp and getting the “W”, unless of course they can find a way to summon Tim Tebow to play for them.
And that’s not happening.
Week two looks to be a rather bland week with more than a few schools taking on cupcake opponents, but football is football, especially in the Big East. Join us for week three of the Big East schedule preview early next week. Thanks for reading as always.
Maybe folks remember watching the Sugar Bowl. Or maybe folks turned it off at halftime when the game was all but over with the Gators leading the Bearcats 30-3. Either way, I don’t see USF heading into the Swamp and getting the “W”, unless of course they can find a way to summon Tim Tebow to play for them.
And that’s not happening.
Week two looks to be a rather bland week with more than a few schools taking on cupcake opponents, but football is football, especially in the Big East. Join us for week three of the Big East schedule preview early next week. Thanks for reading as always.
No comments:
Post a Comment