Big East Shameful

Introduction: Scratch another conference off the list.The Bulls showed some toughness by beating Central
After the ACC laid an egg in week one, the Big EastFlorida in overtime, and are looking to build on the
tried to prove it was even worse. Also, a Heismansuccess it had last year reaching the land of the
candidate emerges out West.rankings for the first time. This season they are
Scratch another conference off the list. There are onlycurrently No.18, and may need to carry the torch of the
four you need to pay attention to the rest of the year.conference by themselves.
The ACC flopped big time in week one. Clemson,There are only three chances left for the conference
Virginia Tech, and Virginia were all embarrassed on theto redeem itself this season. Syracuse takes on Penn
opening weekend. Last Saturday was not any betterState this Saturday, but are 27 underdogs at home.
as the Hokies and Cavs held just 3-0 halftime leadsThe far more plausible shots at a big non-conference
against Furman and Richmond respectively. Marylandwin are South Florida against Kansas on Friday and
got beat by Middle Tennessee. Wake Forest barelyWest Virginia taking on Colorado and Auburn later in
managed to survive with a last second win againstthe season. The rest of the Big East had better hope
rebuilding Ole Miss at home.the Bulls and Mountaineers are up to the task.
As hard as it is to believe however, the Big East could• Is there light at the end of the tunnel for the
be in even worse shape. There is less margin for errorACC? There is still some hope for the ACC. Clemson
for it than any other BCS league simply because of ais still very talented, but the loss too Alabama showed
numbers game. The raiding of the conference by theit is a typical Tommy Bowden team that wilts under
ACC left it with only eight schools, and there werepressure. While I think the Demon Deacons are a
widespread notions that it would no longer be worthyquality team they are certainly not among the elite in
of being included among the power conferences. Thatcollege football. At least Florida State showed some
proved to be unfounded with the rise to prominence ofsemblance of an offense (albeit in a glorified
West Virginia under Rich Rodriguez, and Louisvillescrimmage) and youthful Miami stayed with Florida for
under Bobby Petrino. Both coaches are now gone, anda half. That brings hope for the future. The conference
so too it appears the swagger of the Big East.desperately needs those two traditional powers to
This was supposed to be the year for Davereturn to prominence.
Wannstedt at Pitt. The Panthers already lost at home• Remember the name: Jahvid Best.
to Bowling Green. Louisville got embarrassed byPacific-10 games are often hard to find and watch
in-state rival Kentucky. Cincinnati got eviscerated byoutside of the West Coast, but fans would do well to
Oklahoma. Rutgers showed that it can't moved the ballcatch a glimpse of Cal tailback Jahvid Best. The true
without Ray Rice in a blowout against Fresno State atsophomore has blazing speed having won the
home. West Virginia, supposedly the one elite team thisCalifornia state 100-meter title in high school, and that
season, was held without a touchdown for the firstspeed translates incredibly well to the football field. He
time in seven years in a manhandling by East Carolina.has already piled up 311 yards and 4 touchdowns
Syracuse is Syracuse. Connecticut needed overtimeaveraging 8.4 yards per carry. Against Washington
just to edge Temple by three, but at least it managedState last week he scored on runs of 80 and 86
to stay unbeaten.yards. If the Bears continue to win and challenge for
Along with the Huskies, South Florida is the only othersecond in conference behind USC, expect to see Best
team in the Big East without a blemish so far this year.in New York at the Heisman trophy celebration.