Big East Proves Doomsayers Wrong

[ChiTownBull]

http://sports.tbo.com/sports/MGBEL83S74F.html

NEWPORT, R.I. - Two years ago, when the Big East's new eight-team membership convened here for the first time at the league's annual football media days, it found Newport engulfed in thick fog.

Perhaps it was fitting, because the league's future appeared cloudy at best. After Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College left to join the Atlantic Coast Conference, critics claimed the Big East didn't deserve a BCS bid.

Even Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson lobbied that his league was more BCS-worthy than the Big East.

Today, though, the forecast for the Big East is sunny and bright.

"Two years ago, the Big East was getting chased down the street by Freddy Krueger," New York Times national college football writer Pete Thamel said. "And not a lot of people expected the Big East to escape.

"But now they have four legit Top 25 preseason teams, and the specter of Freddy is long gone."

After those nightmare predictions, the Big East instead responded with last year's dream season.

For the first time in league history, the Big East had three teams - No. 6 Louisville, No. 10 West Virginia and No. 12 Rutgers - ranked in the top 12 in the final Associated Press poll. Only the SEC could say the same.

The Big East also went an unprecedented 5-0 in bowl games, the nation's only unbeaten conference last season.

"Our people were very excited, but I've been doing this a long time," said Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese, who has been with the league 29 years. "I've learned not to get too high with the highs and too low with the lows."

And this fall, the highs could go even higher.

When the AP preseason poll is released next month, West Virginia should be ranked in the top five and Louisville should crack the top 10. Rutgers probably will be in the 10-15 range, while the University of South Florida might sneak into the Top 25.

At worst, the Bulls will be on the cusp of their first Top 25 ranking.

The Big East's recent success certainly hasn't gone unnoticed.

It has been a popular destination for athletic directors and general managers looking for a new coach.

Last season, Alabama went after West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez and the University of Miami pursued Rutgers' Greg Schiano, while Louisville's Bobby Petrino was hired by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati's Mark Dantonio went to Michigan State.

The previous season, USF's Jim Leavitt turned down an offer from Kansas State.

Tranghese said he expects other schools to continue pursuing the league's coaches.

"If people aren't coming after our coaches, it tells me we have a problem," Tranghese said. "We have to keep our coaches. Our institutions have to step up and do what they need to do to arm them with what they need."

Tranghese said despite last year's success, it was just that - last year.

"I knew as soon as those bowl games were over, we'll be judged by what we do this year," Tranghese said. "If you're in a conference, some days are very good and some days you struggle."

And all indications are more good days are ahead.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

[Sunil]

I'll be glad when this whole "Big East proves everybody wrong" angle becomes a non-issue. It's a great story if the conference is still fishing for respect, but it'll be a good thing when ppl respond to it with a "so what? we knew that..."

[smazza]

i dont think they proved much to the top teams in usa

[smazza]

big east top teams need to  play other top teams even if it is on the road

[1Bullsfan]

They forgot to mention last year the BE went 32-5 in nonconference games. Grant it, if you saw WVU nonconference schedule last year, it wasn't that difficult. I think they played Eastern Washington, where Slanton had 100 yds in the FIRST quarter alone.