I don’t have a huge problem with this week’s BE Power Poll. Of course, it is helped by the fact that not many got their votes in, so my vote had more heft to it. I’m a little troubled to see Seton Hall behind Syracuse at this point. Here’s my ballot.

1. UConn
2. WVU
3. Nova
4. Georgetown
5. Pitt
6. Seton Hall
7. Marquette
8. Syracuse
9. Louisville
10. Cinci
11. Providence
12. Rutgers
13. St. John’s
14. DePaul
15. ND
16. USF

Of course, Pitt took a tumble in the National Polls. Not surprising to me that Pitt dropped to #13 and #14. Yes, I know Florida is still in the top 10 and didn’t fall as far losing to lesser foes. I’m not going to be that bent over it. Besides, how do you think G-town fans are feeling? They’ve been as hot as any team, and they are still behind Pitt in the rankings.

The 2006 Pitt football schedule has been released (hat tip to Joe T.). That makes sense because the Big East released the entire schedule (hat tip to Kevin B.).

Date —– Opponent —————— Time

Sept. 2 —- Virginia —————— TBA

Sept. 8 (Fri.) – at Cincinnati* (ESPN2) – TBA

Sept. 16 — Michigan State ———- TBA

Sept. 23 — The Citadel ————— TBA

Sept. 30 —- Toledo ——————– TBA

Oct. 7 —— at Syracuse* ———— TBA

Oct. 14 —- at Central Florida ——– TBA

Oct. 21 ——- Rutgers* —————- TBA

Oct. 28 ——— OPEN

Nov. 4 ——— at South Florida* —– TBA

Nov. 11 ——– at Connecticut* ——- TBA

Nov. 16 (Thurs.) – West Virginia* (ESPN) – 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 ———- Louisville* ———– TBA

Only 2 ESPN games at this point. Having a disappointing season and debut last year will do that.

Let’s see, yup, Pitt keeps the tradition going again. If any of the High Holy Days fall on a weekend, there must be a home game. Rosh Hashanah starts Friday evening, September 22. Perfect. At least it’s only The Citadel.

As far as the BE schools as a whole, the ongoing ghettoization on the ESPN family continues. Only two games get on ESPN or ESPN2 on a Saturday. Both on the final day of the season, December 2: UConn @ Louisville and Rutgers @ WVU. Otherwise they are Thursday (4) and Friday (2) match-ups. Though, according to the release:

There are a minimum of two additional ESPN or ESPN2 telecasts and four ABC telecasts still to be determined.

With games against Virginia and Michigan State, Pitt has a chance for one of those 6 slots. Louisville has as good a shot with games against Miami (FL) and K-State

WVU will be televised 5 times on the Mouse channels and Louisville 4 times. USF and Syracuse make 0 appearances at this time.

Almost exactly a year ago, Pitt was heading to the concrete toadstool for a game that Pitt was expected to win. And why not?

Pitt had won 5 straight from the ‘Eers. WVU was struggling after a good start. Coach John Beilein was under criticism in his third year at WVU for his system and whether he was even the right coach for the job (he had yet to beat Pitt or win a game in the BET). The starting center for WVU was going to miss the game because he was sick. In his place the back-up Center who only averaged about 15 minutes a game as his game seemed to regress from the previous year would start.

It all started turning around with that overtime win over Pitt.

That just makes me ill.

Two-game losing streak. In the midst of a brutal stretch of games. Home game against a rival, that is not only top-10 but plays an offensive style that plays to Pitt’s weakness. Oy.

I guess there’s a parade or something today as various players quickly return from media engagements. So unless the Steelers players show up during the WVU-Pitt game, most Pittsburgh fans aren’t really going to notice this game until after it happens.

It doesn’t matter. This is a big, national game on ESPN. Complete with Dick Vitale screaming into the mike, and singing the praises of the Oakland Zoo. It’s a rivalry game.

The Mountaineers will be about to start their brutal stretch: at Pitt, at Georgetown, at Seton Hall, home for UConn, and then at Syracuse. All 5 games in a 12 day period late in the season. WVU’s lack of depth could catch-up to them in that period. They really only go 2 deep on the bench. 97.8% of the minutes are filled by seven players.

Pittsnogle, Gansey and Herber all average over 30 minutes a game. Beilein, Young and Collins at least 24 minutes.

This game is up to Pitt. To get all clichey, Pitt is going to have to step up and show what kind of team they are. Now that everyone knows Pitt is a top-20 team, Pitt has to be able to beat other legit top-20 teams. None of the teams that were previously ranked when Pitt faced them are ranked at this point. WVU would be the first that I am reasonably certain will still be in the rankings at the end of the season.