Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Actual news that matters.
The Big East announced the conference match-ups in basketball for the upcoming season. Not the dates mind you, just who plays who, where and how many times.
Pitt’s Home-and-Home opponents: WVU, UConn and DePaul
BE Home games: Cinci, Marquette, ND, St. John’s, USF, Syracuse
BE Road games: Georgetown, Louisville, VIllanova, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Providence
I can’t say the schedule is unfair. Obviously 3 very tough road games with G-town, L-ville and ‘Nova. But home with Marquette, ND, ‘Cuse and Cinci (who I think will actually be better than people think).
Just a few quick thoughts.
The eyeball test, suggests that the hardest home-and-home for an upper-half of the Big East squad goes to Notre Dame with UConn, Louisville and St. John’s. UConn has Pitt, ND and Seton Hall. WVU has Louisville, Pitt and USF. Louisville gets ND, WVU and USF.
The easiest for upper-8 teams might be ‘Nova with Marquette, Providence and ‘Cuse. Marquette gets off pretty lightly with G-town, DePaul and ‘Nova.
Cinci looks to be the biggest schedule beneficiary. Home-and-homes with G-town, Providence and St. John’s. The home slate has L-ville, UConn, ND and WVU. With Pitt, ‘Nova and Marquette on the road.
Again, I don’t doubt Rutgers will be better but expecting to lose to them is a stretch.
I also agree marking Pitt down for an L is a stretch, but we will lose a game that is unexpected. I say the probability is higher that it is that game.
An unexpected loss is, unfortunately, bound to happen in a league as tough as the Big East. The big games take so much focus and effort that getting caught off guard by an inferior team is almost certain.
In ref to: McCoy’s eligibility to leave for the draft after his second year as a Panther. & In response to: —–> Stoosh, from what I understand McCoy spent 1 year at an academy/prep school before coming to Pitt… a player can leave for the draft only if they are 3 years removed from highschool. Comment by Ryan M. 07.01.08 @ 10:44 am —–> Yes, he can definitely leave. There is no question about it. Comment by Stuart 07.01.08 @ 5:09 pm —–> Earlier this recruiting season a prospective PITT RB recruit was quoted as saying the PITT football staff were talking with him about taking McCoy’s place after McCoy leaves between the 2008-09 seasons. Comment by Reed 07.02.08 @ 4:46 am —–>
Okay, point taken guys. But last I checked, McCoy went to Milford, yes? Therefore, unless I’m missing something and McCoy went to an academy/school that doubled as a “Junior College,” it doesn’t appear that “McCoy will have the same justification.”
To my knowledge, McCoy didn’t come in as JUCO. But Fitz did. And as I remember it, “the clause that Fitzgerald used to leave Pitt early after just two years…” was afforded to him based on his year spent at Valley Forge Military Academy which is, in fact, a Junior College. Therefore, I’m disinclined to believe that the Fitzgerald situation/comparison applies in this case.
If anyone knows better — if my facts aren’t straight, that is — let me know. I’m still a bit confused on all this.
“no earlier than three years after either his graduation from high school or graduation of the class with which he entered high school, whichever is earlier.”
That’s not good news. It looks like it will be his choice at the end of the season to make.
I don’t know if this rule is new or what, because if not, I don’t see how there was such a debate over Fitzgerald. The plain language of the rule says that any player can go three years after graduation of the class he ENTERED high school with. The prep school/when he graduated stuff is therefore irrelevant- unfortunately.
They changed the rule because of Fitzy. Its not the same rule that was in place then. They realized how dumb it was.
So, as said before in that other post, he can absolutely leave after this year.
Best case scenario for Shady is that he has a big year for us and gets an advisory opinion from the NCAA in much the same way that they gave Larry the blessing to be draft eligible.
I would hate to see him become the next Mike Williams, the USC receiver who unsuccessfully challenged the rule, but lost his eligibility for signing with an agent.
Helpful, good to know — clears it up some (the ambiguity) with the McCoy situation.
Interesting stuff there, Stuart: “They changed the rule because of Fitzy. Its not the same rule that was in place then. They realized how dumb it was.”
Really? I’ll take your word on it; you’re generally pretty reliable with citing & furnishing sources.. just don’t recall the rule change over the matter. Thanks for reply
“13. In 1993, the NFL Management Committee and the NFPLA negotiated a Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBAâ€), which has been extended three times and will not expire until the 2007 season.
14. The NFL bylaws include a rule prohibiting any player who has not completed three college seasons, or is not three years removed from high school graduation, from joining the NFL (“the Ruleâ€).
15. The CBA, which comprises 292 pages, 61 articles, appendices from A through N, and 357 sections, does not contain the Rule.
16. The Rule is not the product of bona fide arm’s length negotiation between the NFL and the NFLPA.”
Get that? It wasn’t in the collective bargaining agreement back in 04, it was a NFL bylaw which said “3 years after graduation.”
Now, in 2006, quoting from the collective bargaining agreement:
“(b) No player shall be permitted to apply for special eligibility for selection in the Draft, or otherwise be eligible for the Draft, until three NFL regular seasons have begun and ended following either his graduation from high school or graduation of the class with which he entered high school, whichever is earlier.”
I was told that they bargained for this exact wording because of Fitzgeralds situation. See how it changed from “3 years after graduation” to “3 years after the class they were in graduated, whether they did or not.”
Is this put to rest once and for all?
Either way it looks like there will be a lot of good home games.
