That is the opinion of a Louisville newspaper column about the Big East.

While I agree that the Big East currently lacks sizzle, it does have room to grow and upgrade to a top-five league. Conference USA does not.

When U of L can step in and be voted the team to beat before the Cardinals have taken a snap in the league, there is no doubt the Big East needs work. But when I look at how formidable the league is in men’s basketball, women’s basketball and other sports, I don’t see a league that will be willing to embrace football mediocrity.

There are programs in the Big East that understand what is required to hang out in the Top 25 or contend for national titles. That’s what separates the Big East from C-USA.

Pittsburgh has no interest in being anybody’s chump. Pitt is where Dan Marino and Tony Dorsett played, where Johnny Majors coached.

The Panthers schedule as if they mean business, playing Notre Dame and Nebraska. Although he failed with the Bears and Dolphins, new coach Dave Wannstedt gives Pitt more name recognition.
…
Where the Big East needs improvement is from its bottom four — Connecticut, Rutgers, South Florida and Cincinnati.

UConn means business in everything it does. The consistent success of its two basketball powers is proof of that. The Huskies are in only their sixth season of Division I-A football, and coach Randy Edsall’s program has won 21 of its last 28 games.

South Florida thinks just as big. The Bulls’ agenda never has been a secret: Use big-time football success to grow interest in the university.

Being a Louisville piece, it takes some gratuitous shots at Cinci.

This piece works in conjunction with the article I noted yesterday about all the BE schools upgrading their athletic facilities.

Here’s what the Big East has to do, it can’t just have teams rise and fall quickly. The conference needs at least 2 schools to show consistency in being in the top-25 and keep getting a little better. That’s why all the focus is on Louisville and Pitt. They are the programs closest to achieving that. Other programs in the BE might reach that point, but in the short-term it is Louisville and Pitt.

That is something that Walt Harris should always be given much credit for. The long term growth. Yes, the team would seem to stumble backwards every other year, but it was never falling as far back as it had been before (it just seemed that way). I’m thinking in 2001 when the team lost 5 straight, by the end of the season it still finished with a winning record and a bowl win. Then in 2003 when it fell flat in expectations to challenge for the BE title. Even when the team missed the expectations, they were higher expectations each time.

Now, Pitt is poised to try and take advantage and meet and exceed expectations. Expectations nationally are a close 2nd in the BE and top-25. Obviously, we want to see those exceeded — #1 in BE and top-10 to -15 would be a good start.