The BIG EAST CONFERENCE may not be large in stature but its come up huge in bowl games the last two years (8-2).  It’s also performed better in non-conference play the last three seasons (81-37) than any other group in BIG EAST history.  Yet when it comes to notoriety they still maintain an unsavory lack of respect among the other major conferences.  Word of caution: respect the BIG EAST.

Here is my the on the BIG EAST for 2008 from Marc Lawrence of Playbook.com. Returning starters are listed alongside each team’s name (returning QB’s designated with an *). Coming up next: the BIG 10 CONFERENCE. Enjoy…

BIG EAST

CINCINNATI - *7 / 6
Team Theme – WARNING: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Bearcat boss Brian Kelly, the program builder, has certainly made his mark.  After leading Grand Valley State to successive national championships in 2002 and 2003, Kelly’s Division 1-A teams have each improved their win-loss record from the previous season each of the last four years.  He earned a MAC title with Central Michigan in three short years and will have the Bearcats in Big East title contention very soon. He will, however, be put to the test this year when his team takes on five opponents who either won or shared a conference title in 2007, including three that played in a BCS bowl game. With QB Ben Mauk gone, SR Dustin Garza (former two-year starter) is favored to capture starting honors over Notre Dame transfer Demetrius Jones. After leading Cincinnati to 10 wins last year for the first time since 1951 his four-year improvement record will be tested to the max.
PLAY ON: vs. Louisville (11/14)

CONNECTICUT - *9 / 8 
Team Theme – MARKING THEIR SPOT
It’s easy to understand why head coach Randy Edsall’s name is mentioned annually in new coach-talk.  In six years since moving to Division 1-A football, the Huskies are 41-31.  In four years in the Big East, they have made two bowl games and won a conference championship. Last year, they ended in 5th place for the best turnaround in the nation (4-8 to 9-5). With 17 starters back from last year’s squad, including QB Tyler Lorenzen (only 6 INTs), the future is bright in Storrs.  So are the chances when West Virginia invades Rentschler Field this year.  Not only are they 28-8 in this stadium, they are also 13-7 SU in November since 2002, including 9-1 at home. If the Huskies weren’t a piss-poor 12-25 SU against winning teams we’d snap the rubberband against the Hillbillies. Instead, we’ll simply play it by the book.
PLAY ON: vs. West Virginia (11/1) - *KEY as dog

LOUISVILLE – 5 / 9
Team Theme - WHITE OUT
Fans in Louisville now know the full meaning of the word ‘slime bucket’.  Look it up in the dictionary and you’re likely to see a picture of Bobby Petrino, the ex-Cardinal head coach who bolted Louisville for Atlanta and then Atlanta for Arkansas – all in less than a year. (Check back next year for the latest itinerary).  Steve Kragthorpe was hired from Tulsa to rub away the memory, only his pencil came without an eraser.  After a deeply disappointing 6-6 campaign last year, Kragthorpe promptly hired four new assistants, including new DC Ron English. Certainly the loss of 4-year starting QB Brian Brohm (50 TD’s and 4,000 yards last season) and the coaching shakeup makes this a tenuous season for Coach K.  Remember, though, Tulsa was 2-21 before they hired him. He put them back on the map and, given time, he’ll do the same here. 
PLAY ON: vs. Syracuse (11/1) – KEY*

PITTSBURGH - *8 / 7
Team Theme – WANNY FULL WANNY FULL
For the first time since his arrival to the Steel City three years ago, there’s a buzz about the Pitt campus and Dave Wannstedt is digging it. It started when the Panthers stunned cross-town rival West Virginia as 28-point underdogs in the season finale last year.  Despite three non-winning seasons, Wannstedt was awarded a contract extension immediately following the season-ending win over the Mountaineers.  It’s been said that if you were to look up ‘rewarding mediocrity’ you’d see a picture of mustachioed Dave.  With a strong cast of characters returning, including RB LeSean McCoy, the leading freshman back in the nation with 1,320 rushing yards last season, the buzz is growing to a crescendo. Also back are three quarterbacks who started at least one game each last season and all of the wide receivers. On the stop-unit SR LB Scott McKillup will once again look to lead the nation in tackles. Let’s hope Wanny doesn’t provide a buzz-kill.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Iowa (9/20)
 
RUTGERS - *7 / 8
Team Theme – SHOOTING STARS
Now that the Sopranos are history maybe Greg Schiano can finally escape the Jersey Boss’ ties. After seven seasons of calling the shots, Schiano has his Knights pretty much where he wants them to be – at the top of the heap.  Sure, revenues (read: wins) may have been down a bit last year but hey, things are down everywhere in these tough times. Besides, for the first time ever, Rutgers has gone to three straight bowl games. Schiano loses his big gun with the graduation loss of RB Ray Rice.  He’ll rely on SR QB Mike Teel, who is 21-8 as a starter, to carry the load in ’08. It could be worse. At least he woke up this morning and he’s got a gun.
PLAYAGAINST: vs. Pittsburgh (10/25)
 
SOUTH FLORIDA - *10 / 6
Team Theme – BULL ROAR!
In a season of firsts, the Bulls charged to a school best No. 2 ranking in the polls last year but, like most of the No. 2’s that lost a record-breaking ten times, they couldn’t stay there. The 2007 edition of the Bulls recorded a home sellout, a Top Five ranking and an appearance in the BCS rankings - all USF firsts. More firsts should follow with a 2008 team that returns 62 lettermen, including ten offensive starters. All-conference JR QB Matt Grothe has made his mark while bruising SO RB Mike Ford, an all-state record holder, is ready to burst on the scene.  A bad spot in the schedule rears its head, however, when they close out the campaign against avenging West Virginia after tackling three revenge games of their own just prior to the Mountaineers.  At that point, the Bulls could be sapped.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. West Virginia (12/6) – KEY*

SYRACUSE - *7 / 6
Team Theme  - SLIP SLIDING AWAY
It’s the 4th anniversary of Greg Robinson’s hire at Syracuse.  It’s also the 5th anniversary of Syracuse’s last good year.  That leads to the “somebody please explain” question of the year: How is it Robinson is to be still employed as a college football head coach and Jeff Bower is not?  Like everyone, we’d love to see the pictures Robinson has locked up in his vault.  One thing we know for sure is that the Orange will need to start strong if Robinson is retained after this season. After a four-game home game homestand in September, Syracuse wraps up the season (and most likely Robinson’s career) with five road games in its last seven matches and four bowl teams  - plus Notre Dame - for its final seven opponents. Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson. 
PLAY AGAINST: vs. West Virginia (10/11)

WEST VIRGINIA - *8 / 4
Team Theme – STAYING PAT
When a team loses an All-American running back, its top wide receiver, an entire secondary, its top two defensive linemen and its coach, “rebuilding” should be the order of the day.  That’s hardly the case with West Virginia this year.  Instead, under new coach Bill Stewart, who replaced Rich Rodriguez in a malicious split, the Mountaineers have visions of a 3rd Big East title the last four years.  Heisman-hopeful QB Pat White, a three-year starter who has rushed for 3.507 yards in his career, teams with explosive RB Noel Devine, who steps in for Steve Slaton, to form a lethal backfield.  Behind an experienced offensive line that returns intact, West-by-God looks for a 4th straight AP Top 10 finish in 2008. They’re that good.     
PLAY ON: vs. Pittsburgh (11/28) - *KEY