Fordham has a heck of an opener vs UCONN.

You know the Big East is a joke when we take a spot on TV from the MAC. Sigh…

Plenty of games for the Big East teams to alter their image, and get some more respect. Plenty of games to embarass ourselves. Don’t get mad at people for not respecting the Big East football, it’s all on the table for the conference. You’re either gonna get people saying, “hey, Big East is a little tougher this year”, or, “they are just who we thought they were”. Up to the teams, oppurtunity is there.

Homecoming had better be the Utah game.

Wow, the NonCon schedule for most of the BE really is weak. Syracuse is visiting USC, and the hoopies at least have LSU … but seriously UCONN? You win the league and that is the best you can do?

I like our schedule, and at least we’re smart enough to open with cupcakes this year, instead of trying to break in a green QB with the toughest road game.

When is homecoming? It will not be Utah – it is always a conference rivalry.

Should have been UConn but since it moved to a Wednesday game it’ll either have to be Utah or Cinci the first week of November, which is pretty late for all of that pageantry BS.

As a season ticket holder who doesn’t live in the 5 county area, I’m pissed off at the embracing of mid-week games. Games that I’ll either have to throw away or sell on StubHub. I’d much rather attend them in person, but there’s no way I can burn up a week worth of vacation to go to two games.

What’s the over under on Noon starts this year? Im sure since we’re holding out both hands for as much TV cash as possible we must be at about 6?

Homecoming is going to have to be the Cincy game, but that is pretty late in the year. Not thrilled about the Wednesday night game. 3 breaks of 9+ games – hopefully Graham won’t have the same issues with long-break layoffs that Wanny did.

No way the ND game is a nooner: with ESPN having the rights they’ll put it 3:30 or 8 on ABC most likely. Especially if ND improves the way some people are saying they will.
So that makes two primetime home games within five days…most likely.

Pitt leads in having the least amount of ‘Cupcakes’ in the non-con. Only Buffalo & Maine with 3 very tough non-con games, Iowa, Notre Dame & Utah. While it looks like several BigEast teams have as many as 4 ‘Cupcakes on their non-con (see U-con).

I think the schedule last year and the way it was setup, had a lot to do with us going 8-5. Besides Romeus, Sunseri, Wanny & all the rest of it.

Pitt is still and will be the most marketable team in the BigEast, much to chagrin of our hoopie friends to the south of the Burg. Another reason to hate us. That and our great bball team. LOL

I see 3 weekday games; hope the new coach is better than the old one in these games, since when you think about, the weekday games are what got Wanny fired … 0 and 4 last year.

Good that 2 of the 3 are at home since it seems to me that home teams usually have an advantage in weeknight games

jason–the ND game will not be a late KO, the succos play at night then they have a steve miller band concert…Pitts biggest home game of the year will be ruined because of some minor league baseball team…total BS…another day of no parking..

Wednesday games? Wow. The Big East is awful.

Despite what you guys think, I think Pitt has a decent chance to win the BE this year.

Generally, teams don’t change all that much year over year. So I expect Pitt to be about the same. WVU and Syracuse should continue to get better. But even without the big stars, I think Pitt is competitive in that group.

However, Pitt will get a boost from Graham. It seems to me Pitt’s talent doesn’t translate all that badly into Graham’s system. I think some guys will be freed up to be who they can be, and Graham will actually try to win games, rather than tie.

All bets are off, however, for 2012, if TCU remains anywhere near the level they are now. I would suspect a fall off for 2012/13, until Graham’s recruits mature.

Just wanted to get on the record now so, when the time comes, you can all congratulate me.

You have to give the Big East credit for matching up weak non-cons with weak BE recruiting classes (Rutgers highest at 32 this year?)

Remember though, the Big East doesn’t have to beat Alabama, Auburn, USC, or the LSU’s of the world. IMHO, it’s all about the Big East versus any of the other BCS conferences, perception wise. So, the Big East has a ton of oppurtunities every year. For example, it’s more important for the conference for Cincy to beat Tennessee, UCONN to beat Vanderbilt and Pitt to beat IOWA, than, say, some one time shot of Syracuse upsetting USC. I’m not telling you guys anything you don’t know, but, if you break it down, it’s very simple, there are about 40 games(5 each member) that will either give the conference a little boost, or will have people saying “what a joke”, it’s up to the teams. Gotta start stepping up, and, I think Pitt, WVU and Syracuse are heading in the right direction, it can be done. Will we ever be the SEC, of course not, but, we don’t have to be the laughing stock. (TCU will also help our image quite a bit)!!

POSITIVE STATEMENT GAMES POSSIBLE EMBARRASSMENT

CINCY

TENNESSEE……………..AUSTIN PEAY
N.C. ST……………….AKRON
……………………..MIAMI (OHIO)

UCONN

VANDERBILT……………FORDHAM
IOWA ST………………BUFFALO
…………………….WESTERN MICHIGAN

LOUISVILLE

KENTUCKY……………..MURRAY ST.
NORTH CAROLINA………..F.I.U.
…………………….MARSHALL

PITT

IOWA…………………BUFFALO
NOTRE DAME……………MAINE
UTAH

RUTGERS

NORTH CAROLINA………..N.C. CENTRAL
NAVY…………………OHIO
…………………….ARMY

USF

NOTRE DAME……………BALL ST.
MIAMI………………..FLA. A&M
…………………….UTEP

SYRACUSE

WAKE FOREST…………..RHODE ISLAND
USC………………….TOLEDO
…………………….TULANE

WVU

MARYLAND……………..MARSHALL
L.S.U………………..NORFOLK ST.
…………………….BOWLING GREEN

I hate it as much as a lot of you do, defending the conference, “hey, we’re not as bad as you think”, “actually, we’re really not that bad, we have some good, quality teams”, etc. etc.!!!!

Gotta do it on the field, oppurtunities are there every year. Best example, UCONN last year, a golden oppurtunity for the conference against Michigan. National t.v., early in the season, and they go and crap themselves.

A big upset over a big name would be great, but, I believe, the body of work against the other 5 BCS conferences is the biggest factor.

Even if they are weaker teams in those conferences, i.e. Vanderbilt, Iowa St., Wake Forest, when given the chance, for the conference to have a better perception, you have got to beat them.

Ya, I’m bored at work. Ya, Saturday, had to come in to watch over a few things.

Hail to Pitt, get the Cards tomorrow, gonna be a tough one.

p.s. Yes, we do have three “good” games, and only two cupcakes. Don’t beat up on the other guys too much though, they have all had years with “3” and “2” also. The a.d.’s are in a pickle, gotta have home games for some cash. Pitt has done a nice job of keeping it at 3-2, compared to 2-3 I will say. Pretty much everyone in the BCS is in the same position and one year they have an extra “good” game, and the next year, an extra cupcake.

Spanky, I will congratulate you now, I think we’re gonna be pleasantly suprised this year!!

Sorry about about the opportunity mis-spell, had “u” in my mind!! Told ya I was bored at work, ok, that’s enough, have a great weekend all!!

The same old, same old. “The Big East stinks”! “BE teams can’t punch their way out of a paper bag”, etc, etc. Whaa, Whaa, Whaa,. Reality check world. The Big East will NEVER be the best football conference in the nation nor with the Big East ever be the WORST conference in the nation. We are and probably always will be right in the fat middle along with the ACC and 50 other teams in the middle/bottom of the pack of the other stronger conferences. Last season in bowl games the BE was 4 wins 2 losses that in a historically weak year for the conference. Yeah, I know who we beat, no matter, the Big East is middle of the road, and that’s who we beat, accept it! Shut up with the constant defamation of the BE and get on with the idea that this whole confabrication called major college football is just a another frickin for of entertainment. A game to follow and enjoy. Embrace the process, root for your team, watch the games and get on with real life issues after the season is over. Nough said.

Lake Wobegon, where all the children are above average.

Anybody else notice in the Season Ticket application that the parking fee this season will be $120? Also, With nearly half of our season being played in September, I sure hope we can get off to a fast start!

Big East has a chance to rectify itself this year, as Dan pointed out – its not about the opponents, just the overall record vs Big 5 conferences + Notre Dame.

Our sked is pretty challenging IMO. As a whole there’s no “uh oh” games, but there are no real pitiful opponents either. Even Buffalo and Maine aren’t terrible. I can this season having a snowball effect either way – we get on a roll or we sink into a rut because there isn’t much difference in quality of opponent overall. Definitely should be a top 3 favorite to win the conference, especially if Graham’s firework offense can get some traction – there are no upper tier offenses in the Big East and if we can put up 30 a game we might be able to fly through teams like Cincy did a couple years back.

I hope BYU runs SDSU out of the building.

Dearest Dr. Tom, not sure if you’re calling out Big East bashers across the country, or, specifically, some of us on here commenting. If, in general, forgive me in advance. If some of us, please take note.

1.) I only see one person, Chris, defaming the
Big East. Even he was just commenting
“awful”, really not defamation, just a
quick word.

2.) My posts, imparticular, are excited posts to
see what the conference can do. My
breakdown, was to simplify the schedule, so
people could easily see the Big East vs. BCS
matches.

3.) Yes, I believe the conference will be right
where it’s at also. I was only saying, which
I stated above, would be good to get some
wins against other BCS schools to “get a
boost”, “positive statement” and stated
plainly, “will we ever be the SEC, of course
not”. Basically, it would be nice to not have to endure the nonsense, and a few wins would
definitely help that.

4.) Most of the comments above are positive, several saying they’re looking forward to the season, I said I think Pitt, WVU and Syracuse are on the rise, a couple predicting good seasons.

5.) Get on with real life issues after the season is over. That is what a blog is, to comment and discuss things about a certain subject. Most everyone, I’m sure, gets on with their real life, I don’t have 5 minutes twice a day to check out a blog??? I should say twice a day a couple times a week???

6.) I would also suggest, if we’re to get on with our lives, what, in fact, are you doing even looking on here, let alone, posting a comment. Should you not be getting on with your daily real life????

7.) I would also suggest, if we are talking real life issues, after the season, that, really, we should not follow our team during season. Surely, real live issues deserve 12 months, not just 9 months????

I think I’ve commented with you before Dr. Tom, and you seem to be a nice guy. If your comments were not directed at a lot of my post, and just fans across the nation worrying about conferences, then, you have my humblest, sincere apologies. If, in fact, you did have me in mind with your comment, please see #1 through #7. Again, hopefully it was at fans in general, or if it was me, or some of us, maybe you just had a bad night, you seem to be very angry for a Saturday morning. Have a good weekend!

Nope Dan, my comment was not directed at you at all, but specificaly at Greg and Chis, see above. Personally, an exclusive nationally televised game on a night that no one else is playing sounds like a great exposure idea to me, no matter. I guess I’m just fed up with the constant BE football bashing already starting in Feburary when ironically the Big East is demonstrating once again that it is the most dominant power conference in college basketball and Pitt is bringing it home in the conference. My only point was, although apparently not well conveyed, that us Pitt fans should accept the fact that the Big East football conference will remain an also ran for the immediate future and to just enjoy the process of watching how the season unfolds and quit bitchin about how it is an embarassment to be affiliated with our conference. I’m sure that TCU would take umbrage with that attitude as well seeing that they’re all giddy about having the opportunity to now join the BCS party as of next year. BTW, looks like they may be owning the conference pretty quickly too unless a couple of the current conference members step up their game pretty darn fast. Welcome to conference Miami version 2.0. AKA TCU.

Excellent points Dr. Tom, I know I have spoken to you before. I agree about Feb. but, if Chas posts something, you’ll probably get some comments on it. I’m actually really excited for the future. Not over the top, there’s gonna be some growing pains, but, we’ll see.

As for real life, wanna take my spot at the dentist for two crowns tomorrow morning, 9:15 a.m.??? ha ha lol back to the game, enjoy the day!

No Live Blog for Louisville? AH! How can I cope?

Dan – I have to get (2) crowns as well and maybe a root canal. Not a good start to the week. Haha

Does the BTN have the Iowa game?

Panther Fan,
“When is homecoming?” If we knew that answer, we wouldn’t be guessing which game is was?????

LMFAO!!!!!!

Useful to me. fggdfgh