Published: July 03, 2008 10:23 pm            

Mountaineers are team to beat again in Big East

BLUEFIELD — Any July 4th celebration should include baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. It also means football season is approaching fast.

In less than two weeks, NFL training camps will open, and it won’t be long after that when college and high school football practices begin.

For West Virginia University, that means the soap opera that has been Rich Rodriguez and WVU can finally be pushed aside for some real action on the field. The Bill Stewart era will hit high gear after the Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma.

It’s been an amazing run for the Mountaineers, who have won 11 games in each of the last three seasons, along with three bowl wins, and WVU has still won four of the last five Big East titles.

The ‘Eers are the favorite to win again in 2008, with the Big East title possibly coming down to the season’s final weekend when South Florida travels to Morgantown with the intent of making it three in a row against West Virginia.

Or, perhaps the weekend before, when West Virginia travels to Pittsburgh, the same squad that ruined the ‘Eers’ national title hopes last season.

West Virginia should win it again, with the biggest challenges coming from South Florida and resurgent Pittsburgh.

Below is brief look at what lies ahead in the Big East:

1st. West Virginia Mountaineers

(2007: 11-2, 5-2)

Coach: Bill Stewart (1st year, 1-0)

Starters returning: 17

Top Non-Conference Games: at Colorado (Sept. 18), vs. Auburn (Oct .23)

Key Conference Games: at Pittsburgh (Nov. 28), vs. South Florida (Dec. 6)

Offensive standouts: Pat White (QB), Noel Devine (RB), Ryan Stanchek (OT), Pat McAfee (K)

Ready to shine: Brandon Hogan (WR)

Defensive standouts: Scooter Berry (DE), Reed Williams (LB), Mortty Ivy (LB), Quinton Andrews (DB)

Ready to shine: Ellis Lankster (CB)

Must replace: Steve Slaton (RB), Owen Schmitt (FB), Darius Reynaud (WR), Keilen Dykes (DL), Ryan Mundy (S).

Strengths: Pat White. The most exciting player in college football just refuses to lose. There’s experience on the offensive line, and the linebackers figure to lead the defense.

Biggest Issues: Depth at running back, a go-to receiver and pass defense. Stopping the pass could be the ‘Eers’ downfall.

Destination: BCS, Orange Bowl. Pittsburgh ruined West Virginia’s best chance at a national title last season.

5th. Cincinnati Bearcats (10-3, 4-3)

Coach: Brian Kelly (2nd year, 11-3)

Starters Returning: 16

Top Non-Conference Games: at Oklahoma (Sept. 6), at Hawaii (Dec. 6)

Top Conference Games: at Connecticut (Oct. 25), at West Virginia (Nov. 8),

Offensive standouts: Dominick Goodman (WR), Marcus Bennett (WR), Trevor Canfield (OG), Jeff Linkebach (OT).

Ready to shine: Demetrius Jones (QB).

Defensive standouts: Terrill Byrd (DT), Mike Mickens (CB), DeAngelo Smith (CB), Kevin Huber (P).

Ready to shine: Corey Smith (LB).

Must replace: Ben Mauk (QB), Angelo Craig (LB), Haruki Nakamura (S), Gregory Moore (RB).

Strengths: Kelly pulled off an amazing turnaround in Cincinnati, and will try to keep that going with a strong defense led by Byrd and Mickens, along with a solid offensive line and a good receiving corps.

Issues: Mauk wasn’t given a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, meaning the quarterback position will come down to former starter Dustin Grutza or Jones, a transfer from Notre Dame. Jacob Ramsey is the heir apparent at tailback after the departure of three seniors.

Destination: Bowl game. Cincinnati completed a school record 10-win season with a 31-21 win over Southern Mississippi. The Bearcats have won its last three postseason games.

4th. Connecticut Huskies (9-4, 5-2)

Coach: Randy Edsall, 10th year, 50-55)

Starters Returning: 19

Top Non-Conference Games: vs. Virginia (Sept. 13), at North Carolina (Oct. 4)

Conference Games: vs. West Virginia (Nov. 1); at South Florida (Nov. 23).

Offensive standouts: Tyler Lorenzen (QB), Andre Dixon (RB), Donald Brown (RB), Mike Hicks (OG).

Ready to shine: D.J. Hernandez (WR).

Defensive standouts: Scott Lutrus (LB), Cody Brown (DE), Julius Williams (DE), Robert Vaughn (S).

Ready to shine: Lawrence Wilson (LB).

Must replace: Tyvon Branch (CB), Donald Thomas (OG), Danny Lansanah (LB), Larry Taylor (WR).

Strengths: Lorenzen rarely throws an interception and the Huskies have a solid two-back attack with an experienced line in front of them. Defensively, UConn is solid up front and has a rising star in Lutrus at linebacker.

Issues: Despite getting embarrassed by 45 points at West Virginia last season, the Huskies actually earned a share of the Big East title when the ‘Eers lost to Pittsburgh. To be a major player, the Huskies must play better in the big games.

Destination: Bowl bound. The Huskies lost to Wake Forest 24-10 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. A relative newcomer to Division I football, UConn could make consecutive bowl trips for the first time.

6th. Louisville Cardinals (6-6, 3-4)

Coach: Steve Kragthorpe (2nd year, 6-6)

Starters Returning: 15

Top Non-Conference Games: vs. Kentucky (Aug. 31), vs. Kansas State (Sept. 17)

Top Conference Games: vs. South Florida (Oct. 25), vs. West Virginia (Nov. 22)

Offensive standouts: Hunter Cantwell (QB), Eric Wood (C), George Stripling (RB), George Bussey (OT).

Ready to shine: Scott Long (WR).

Defensive standouts: Earl Heyman (DT), Woodny Turenne (CB), Richard Raglin (S), Maurice Mitchell (DE).

Ready to shine: James McKinney (DE).

Must replace: Brian Brohm (QB), Harry Douglas (WR), Gary Barnidge (TE), Mario Urratia (WR).

Strengths: Cantwell might be the best pure passer in the Big East, and this is last chance to prove it, having to sit behind Brohm for so long. The offensive line is solid, and Stripling and Brock Bolen are dependable backs.

Issues: Everything else. The defense was horrid, allowing at least 31.4 points and 416.5 yards per game. That unit is being rebuilt, largely with junior college additions. Cantwell also needs targets since the ‘07 leaders followed Brohm to the NFL.

Destination: Bowl game, but only because there are so many available. They could get left out, but with so many games now on, they could possibly get an invitation. The heat is on second-year coach Steve Kragthorpe.

3rd. Pittsburgh Panthers (5-7, 3-4)

Coach: Dave Wannstedt (4th year, 16-19)

Starters Returning: 17

Top Non-Conference Games: vs. Iowa (Sept. 20); at Navy (Oct. 18).

Conference Games: at South Florida (Oct. 2); vs. West Virginia (Nov. 28).

Offensive standouts: LeSean McCoy (RB), Derek Kinder (WR), T.J. Porter (WR), Oderick Turner (WR).

Ready to shine: Robb Houser (C)

Defensive standouts: Scott McKillop (LB), Greg Romerus (DE), Aaron Berry (CB), Eric Thatcher (S).

Ready to shine: Rashaad Duncan (DT).

Must replace: Jeff Otah (OT), Michael McGlynn (OG), Kennard Cox (CB), Joe Clermond (DE).

Strengths: Optimism. A mostly-dreadful season was salvaged by the upset of West Virginia. McCoy and a solid corps of receivers should spark the Pitt offense, while McKillop is one the nation’s top linebackers. The Panthers also return starters from the third-ranked pass defense in America.

Issues: Quarterback and offensive line. Brian Bostick was forced into action as a freshman after an injury to Bill Stull. Both return, while the interior line must be rebuilt. The same goes on the defensive side of the ball, after the Panthers recorded 31 sacks, Pitt’s most since 2001.

Destination: Bowl game, finally. Pitt hasn’t been a bowl game since 2004, and haven’t won a postseason contest since ‘02.

7th. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-5, 3-4)

Coach: Greg Schiano (8th year, 38-46)

Starters Returning: 15

Top Non-Conference Games: vs. Fresno State (Sept. 1); at Navy (Sept. 20)

Top Conference Games: Must play West Virginia, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and South Florida on the road.

Offensive standouts: Mike Teel, Kenny Britt (WR), Tiquan Underwood (WR), Mike Gilmartin (OT).

Ready to shine: Mason Robinson (RB).

Defensive standouts: Jamaal Westerman (DE), Courtney Greene (S), Kevin Malast (LB), Damoso Munoz (LB).

Ready to shine: Jason McCourty (CB).

Must replace: Ray Rice (RB), Jeremy Zuttah (OG), Eric Foster (DT), Jeremy Ito (K).

Strengths: Teel is a fine quarterback with good weapons in Britt and Underwood. Greene is a two-time All-Big East safety who will try to lead an offense that was 30th in the nation in scoring defense.

Issues: Running back. With Rice gone, the job is wide open, with Mason Robinson, Kordell Young and 255-pound Jourdan Brooks as candidates. Rutgers won 26 games with Rice on the field. Schiano is committed to Rutgers, but this could be a tough season.

Destination: Home. The Scarlet Knights have been to three straight postseason games after having been to one in school history. The Knights have won the last two, including a 52-30 beating of Ball State last year in the International Bowl.

2nd. South Florida Bulls (9-4, 4-3)

Coach: Jim Leavitt (12th year, 79-47)

Starters Returning: 20

Top Non-Conference Games: vs. Kansas (Sept. 12), at N.C. State (Sept. 27)

Key Conference Games: at Cincinnati (Oct. 30), at West Virginia (Dec. 6)

Offensive standouts: Matt Grothe (QB), Ryan Schmidt (OG), Carlton Mitchell (WR), Benjamin Williams (RB)

Ready to shine: Mike Ford (RB)

Defensive Standouts: George Selvie (DE), Tyrone McKenzie (LB), Nate Allen (S), Aaron Harris (DT).

Ready to shine: Brouce Mompremier (LB)

Must replace: Mike Jenkins (DB), Trae Williams (DB), Ben Moffitt (LB), Richard Clebert (DB), Walter Walker (DT).

Strengths: Grothe leads an offense that returns nine starters. He’s led the Bulls in rushing and passing for two straight seasons. Selvie guides an athletic, fast defense that will be especially potent among the front seven.

Issues: Benjamin Williams and Mike Ford will work to carry the pigskin for the Bulls, while the Bulls must replace a pair of cornerbacks that were selected in the NFL Draft.

Destination: Bowl game, with something to prove. South Florida finished 3-4 last season after starting 6-0. The Bulls were thumped by Oregon 56-31.

8th. Syracuse Orange (2-10, 1-6)

Coach: Greg Robinson (4th year, 7-28)

Starters Returning: 13

Top Non-Conference Games: vs. Penn State (Sept. 13); at Notre Dame (Nov. 22)

Conference Games: vs. Louisville (Nov. 1); at West Virginia and South Florida in consecutive weeks

Offensive standouts: Andrew Robinson (QB), Mike Williams (WR), Ryan Durand (OG), Corey Chavers (OT).

Ready to shine: Averin Collier (RB).

Defensive standouts: Arthur Jones (NT), Vincenzo Giruzzi (DE), Jake Flaherty (LB), Brnadon Gilbeaux (DE).

Ready to shine: A.J. Brown (S).

Strengths: There aren’t many. Williams has gone nine straight games with a touchdown receptions, while Robinson has shown flashes at times. Jones recorded 17.5 tackles for loss last season.

Issues: Greg Robinson’s coaching tenure. It’s probably over after this season — or even before it ends — having recorded just seven wins in three seasons. Running back is a definite quandry for the Orange, while as is the secondary.

Destination: Employment line for Robinson. His 7-28 mark over three seasons is the worst stretch in the history of a once-proud program. With non-conference games with Penn State and Notre Dame and Big East road games against West Virginia, South Florida and Cincinnati, it’s not likely to improve in ‘08.

Note: ACC and Conference USA football will previewed soon.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.