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Around Orange Nation, we bristle at sending credit to any other coach in the conference. Schiano is a d*ck. Edsall is arrogant. Leavitt always chokes. Petrino is a snake. Kelly cheats. Need we continue?
The ol’ kicking tire in Pittsburgh is clearly Dave Wannstadt. Wanny and that mustache are incompetent.
That might still be true after last night’s 27-24 season opening loss in Salt Lake City. But give the Panthers and the ‘Stache their due. #15 Pitt proved it wasn’t scared.
Since the NCAA changed its restrictions and now allows all wins against D-1AA (or FCS) to count towards bowl credentials, schools like Syracuse slot Maine AND Colgate in the same season. Not long ago, to prevent the fattening up on the jayvees, the NCAA said only one 1AA win could count towards the postseason every two years. Now we’re at two per season (theory is that the 1AA is losing money like BP and needs the big school checks).
In the Big East this weekend, Rutgers defeated Norfolk State 31-0 last night, West Virginia will play Coastal Carolina, South Florida hosts Stony Brook and the Orange travel to Akron. That’s half the conference that will barely break a sweat in their openers (let’s hope that’s the case against the Zips).
Louisville plays Kentucky in their annual battle, although that’s a less than altruistic endeavor. The Cards and Wildcats enter into that agreement in an attempt to make football relevant in a basketball state. And Kentucky has far more to lose as an SEC team potentially getting kicked by an “inferior” Big East school in that series.
Tip the cap to Cincinnati, which travels to Fresno State, always a difficult place to play. UConn (begrudgingly) for heading to the Big House in Ann Arbor (even though RichRod’s Wolverines are a disaster). And Pitt for last night’s battle.
For the Panthers, reaching the BCS title game is highly unlikely. The Big East will be overlooked if an undefeated SEC, Big10, Big 12, ACC or Pac-10 school is available instead. But remember USF and West Virginia a few seasons ago, ranked #2 and threatening to crash the championship party before late slips?
In a season it was predicted to win the Big East, #15 Pitt scheduled a roadie across the country against a perennial Top-25 team and notorious giant-killer (who will also be a Pac-10 team next year) and effectively dashed that slight hope it could play for a national title on September 2nd by losing in overtime.
The Panthers have another huge test against #13 Miami, a trip to Notre Dame, and tilts against New Hampshire and FIU to round out the non-con.
Wanny’s stache is goofy, but his scheduling is not.
Posted: D.A.
