[wvuauthor]

This is one of my favorite topics. What does everybody think about the Big East conference in football. Obviously it is not as strong as some other conferences out their, but there are some solid teams as well as some teams that are on the rise.

What do you see for 2006?

[wedge]

Big East has a football conference?? Who knew

[Lefty Noob]

Nothing against the Pitt or WVU fans out there, but I really want to see UConn or USF or somebody stun the world and win the conference championship. Then get the guaranteed BCS bowl bid.

That would officially put an end to all of this BCS nonsense.

[desertrat]

The Big East needs to win some high profile games out of conference in order to be taken seriously by most of us. West Virginia is the only team that has earned any respect there so far but Louisville and Pitt have the potential to maybe earn respect in the future. UConn is a building program and could be on the verge of a breakthrough also. Will Rutgers continue to improve? USF? They are in good recruiting areas so I guess it is possible they could rise to respectability. Syracuse has had some good teams but has never really been a BCS Bowl level team. I am skeptical of the Big East at this time but that could change with some high profile wins.

[wvuauthor]

I don't see the BCS going anywhere in the near future. And if it does go away, people will find something wrong with the new system. Nothing is perfect.

Desertrat, WVU beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, that is a pretty big win in my book. But you're right in saying that some other teams need to pick it up on their end.

[Lefty Noob]

WVU's going to be a good team this year. Lots of young talent, especially in the skill positions. That RB Slaton is the real deal. He's going to turn a lot of heads in 2006.

[cjg11582]

This conference is just missing one more consistent powerhouse to be repsectable. WVU is great, Lousiville is exceptional even though they underperformed last year and South Florida and UConn are improving. Their is the perenial underdog with Rutgers, and of course the (current) throw away teams: Cinncinati, Syracuse and Pitt. Sme might disagree with this assessment but I do not see Pitt or The Cuse improving with time and certainly not in the immediate future. They have made questionable coaching decisions and in college football the recruiting/coaching is obviously pivotal for success. Wanny has never won as a head coach so I have no reason to feel optimistic about his career in Pittsburgh. And the incredibly random Gregg Robinson hire by The Orange is vexing at best. Was it just me or did Texas' defense look better without him there? I don't think it's strictly a coincidence that UT finally won a national title the year after he leaves. All in all, I don't think this conference is as disposable as most assume, give it a couple of years before we demand The BCS strongly considers revoking its automatic bid.

[wvuauthor]

cjg,

I am with you on this! I think that one more solid team would be able to put the conference in a better light. If WVU and Louisville can consistently stay in the top 25, all the conference needs is somebody else to step up. But which team is going to do it is just a guess at this point.

[DrCool]

I agree that the Big East is one consistant big time program away from respectability. They need a team to step up and become a Miami/Florida State/Texas/Ohio State type team that on any give year will be pressing for a national championship.

If you look at the ACC of the 90's it was basically Florida State and a bunch of other teams. Some teams would rise up and have a good couple years but there was nobody who would consistently challenge FSU year after year. North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Virginia, etc. would put together good years here and there but it was basically a 1 team conference.

That said I am not sure there is a program in the conference that can be that team for any length of time. WVU will put together a couple good seasons, Pittsburgh shows flashes from year to year, Louisville is on a good run right now, etc. but I can't really see any dominant team in that conference.

[wvuauthor]

I disagree; I feel that WVU has stepped up to the plate and is poised to prove it this season. Over the last two seasons they are 19-5, and have beaten some pretty good teams along the way.

With that being said, they need to prove it again this year by making it back to a BCS game.

[desertrat]

The win over Georgia was a huge step forward for the Mountaineers. I believe they had not fared well in bowl games in the past and were on a 6 or 7 bowl game losing streak? Correct me if my numbers are off, but the win over Georgia in Atlanta surprised me and got my attention. One would think this team can improve with the QB and RB both being freshmen, so it will be fun to see if they can match last season.

[wvuauthor]

You are correct; they had lost several bowl games in a row including back to back losses in the Gator Bowl.

It will definitely be interesting to see if they can repeat last seasons performance.

[legend]

You read it here first. Randy Edsell of UConn is a big time coach. I am positive he will get an offer some where down the road to take over a major program. They lost their top QBs early on this year and never recovered. I cannot imagine this guy staying at a basketball school like Connecticut too long.

[DrCool]

No question that WVU has put together a couple good years. What they need to do though is put together 5-6 good years or 8 out of 10 good years and be a consistent winning program. Only time will tell if they can do it. I would be very happy to see them become a top program for the next decade and make the Big East a viable BCS conference.

[wvuauthor]

I agree, Edsall is a great coach. And he will probably have to leave if he ever wants to coach a big time program. Even though Connecticut has potential, like you said it is a basketball school first.