Big East Giving Thanks

One Mississippi State fan thinks that the Bulldogs should leave the SEC for the Big East and its prospects of an easier path of a BCS. I’m a little skeptical of his belief that the Bulldogs would be instant contenders (they lost to Louisiana Tech this year, after all), and geographic concerns render the idea moot, but the general principle is solid. The BE may not be able to poach any top-tier contending teams, but would any midlevel BCS squads be tempted to jump by the lure of becoming King of the Hill?

Cincinnati has a clear path to the Big East title, but all anyone wants to talk about is where Brian Kelly will be coaching next year.

Tyler Lorenzen was miserable Sunday as the Huskies fell to slumping USF.

On the heels of losing Woodny Turenne, the Cards may be without safety Bobby Buchanan for their road finale against RU.

Speaking of departures, the Backyard Brawl may be the last game LeSean McCoy plays in Heinz Field as a Panther.

USF finally ended its losing streak with a victory over UConn, which should seal up their bid to the St. Petersberg Bowl. I actually expected them to win, because UConn probably has the worst WR corps in the country, and USF needed this game.

Haven’t you heard? On Saturday, Syracuse saved Christmukkwanzaa.

As if on cue, West Virginia remembered that Pat White is a really good runner and trounced the ‘Ville.

Sorry Sun Bowl

I think it’s out of your hands at this point.

The outcome of South Florida’s and Rutgers’ campaigns also will have an influence on whether Notre Dame lands a berth to the Sun Bowl.

If six Big East teams finish with seven or more wins, the Sun Bowl will have no choice but to take a Big East team over 6-win Notre Dame. Despite Notre Dame’s lackluster record, Sun Bowl officials still want the Irish faithful in El Paso, Texas, for the New Year’s Eve affair.

And with Cincinnati, Pitt, West Virginia and UConn having already reached the 7-win plateau, Irish fans wanting to nab the Big East’s runner-up bowl will be rooting for 6-4 South Florida and 6-5 Rutgers to lose out.

But wait!

Per NCAA Bylaw 30.9.2.1 an institution with a record of six wins and six losses may be selected for participation in a bowl game if 1) the institution or its conference has a primary contractual affiliation, which existed prior to the first contest of the applicable season, with the sponsoring bowl organization. In the case of a conference contractual affiliation, all conference teams with winning records must be placed in one of the contracted bowl games before any institution with a record of six wins and six losses may be placed in a contracted bowl game; and 2) all contractual affiliations have been fulfilled and all institutions with winning records have received bowl invitations (either through a contractual affiliation or as an at-large selection).

I thought that the Sun Bowl was obligated to take the BE’s #2 team. This all becomes moot however if RU beats Louisville.

Brett McMurphy has more details this morning.

I had previously been told by Big East and bowl officials earlier this year that Notre Dame could – and could not – get a Big East bowl if the Irish finish 6-6.

With 100 percent certainty, here is the Big East’s bowl situation concerning Notre Dame, according to Carparelli.

First off, USF is very, very fortunate to have beaten UConn. Because if the Bulls had lost to UConn and West Virginia, Notre Dame could have still been selected by the Sun Bowl. However, since the Bulls got their seventh win, the only way Notre Dame (6-5) can get to the Sun Bowl is by (a) upsetting USC Saturday or (b) Rutgers (6-5) losing at home to Louisville on Dec. 4.

The reason 6-6 Notre Dame wouldn’t be able to go to the Sun Bowl is because if the Big East has six seven-win teams to fill its six bowl games. The Sun Bowl is not allowed, by NCAA rules, to select a six-win Big East team (including Notre Dame) if a seven-win team is available. The Big East currently has five seven-win teams (Cincy, Pitt, West Virginia, UConn and USF) with Rutgers one win away from its seventh win.

And remember, Notre Dame is only available for the Gator or Sun and not any other Big East bowls. Clear as mud, right?

Reps from the Texas Bowl (too soon, and they treated RU fans poorly in 2006) and Meineke Bowl were in attendance on Saturday. RU’s travelling fanbase makes them an appealing option, along with access to a big media market and an offense that can make big plays.

“They have a good crowd today,” he said. “We’ve always estimated they’d bring 15 to 25 thousand. Rutgers brings enthusiasm, it brings a name. It’s always nice to see a waiting list for tickets. Those are positive things.”

Webb said Rutgers is among “”three or four” teams in the Big East on the Meineke Car Care’s radar, adding Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and West Virginia as other potential suitors.

“Connecticut’s a darkhorse, but we had them last year and we don’t like to repeat,” Webb said. “It’s been a crazy year in the Big East.”

TFY Draft Report is reporting that a certain receiver is leaning towards entering the NFL draft.

It was an ugly, ugly weekend for RU basketball. The men lost to St. Bonaventure. I caught part of it, it was painful to watch. The women were blown out on their road trip by Stanford and Cal.

Staying above the fray

I liked the point Steve Politi made last week in contrasting the styles of Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez and Greg Schiano.

It just makes no sense. Most coaches largely ignore what the media writes because it is outside their control, and because they know its impact on recruiting is minimal. Nobody does this better than Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano, who stays above the fray no matter what is written about him or his program. Schiano knows that getting good players comes down to relationships, and that’s where Gonzalez should focus his energy.

Undoubtedly, a positive approach will foster a better relationship with the local media than continually picking fights. However, I’m increasingly convinced that this isn’t enough. Not when the New York Times is publishing editorials littered with numerous factual errors. RU’s lack of a tit-for-tat response has allowed critics of athletics at the university to largely control the media narrative. (cf: this video from 2 days ago on ESPN)

Picking fights with the media is a losing battle. That’s why alarm bells starting ringing in my head in response to a longtime poster on Rivals relaying this message from Joan McCormick.

“I think the people of New Jersey need to know this information and how the paper hates Rutgers and is ok with making me cry. Put that on the blogs.”

At least this should clear up any (completely unrealistic, I think) fears about George Zoffinger coming out ahead with his scorched earth strategy. Frustrations at RU have been boiling over, and for good reason. There is a personal vendetta between Zoffinger and athletic director Robert Mulcahy, and the former has decided that no tactic is out of bounds. Josh Margolin and Ted Sherman, and to a lesser extent, upper-level management at the Ledger (no doubt, with heavy opposition from the sports desk), have given Zoffinger an unchecked forum for his mudslinging.

I don’t believe that Margolin, Sherman, Jim Willse, et. al hate Rutgers, nor is it appropriate to react defensively, and take anything the SL publishes personally. By no means is the press obligated to provide Rutgers positive coverage. However, they are obligated to provide fair and accurate coverage. As I’ve said before, there was absolutely nothing wrong with Margolin and Sherman following their muckraking instincts and wondering whether they were sitting on a big story when they landed the ur-political insider Zoffinger as a source. In fact, New Jersey needs more, not less, of that kind of behavior.