Big East Scheduling for 2007

[E.T.]

Schedule thud in 2007 not good for Big East football

Jack Bogaczyk

Daily Mail Sports Editor

Wednesday December 06, 2006

The Big East Conference has three football teams with at least 10 victories for the first time. The league is favored to win all five of its 2006 bowl games, four of those by at least a touchdown.

The conference, emerging from a loss of power teams in 2004 and ‘05, enjoyed a league record 21 home-game network TV appearances (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2). The Big East had two of the top three and three of the top eight games in the ESPN college football ratings this season.

So, how will the Big East follow up such an impact, profile-altering, historic season?

It will do it with a scheduling thud.

On the eight Big East non-conference team schedules for the 2007 season, there is only one game against a team that is currently ranked in the Associated Press poll.

South Florida plays at Auburn. The Big East will play 40 non-conference games and 39 are scheduled. Louisville still is in need of a home game.

Of the 39 scheduled games (see accompanying chart), the Big East has only 14 against Bowl Championship Series conference schools -- and only four of those against BCS teams with winning records in 2006 (West Virginia-Maryland, USF-Auburn, Maryland-Rutgers and Louisville-Kentucky).

On a recent conference call with Big East media and coaches, Commissioner Mike Tranghese mentioned potshots at Big East schedules (the league was 1-3 against AP-ranked outsiders this season).

"Every time you hear a piece of criticism, just stop and look ... everybody has an agenda," Tranghese said. "That's what the BCS has done. The BCS has driven coaches to complain about other programs and other coaches. I just don't think that's a healthy thing. I think people ought to worry about themselves.

"I think if you're undefeated in this league, you're going to have as good of a chance as anybody else of playing in the championship game. I hear people talking about non-conference schedules. People ought to take a look in the mirror and look at their non-conference schedules as well."

The Big East looked in the mirror on Monday at the conference's athletic directors meeting in New York.

"There's no question that non-conference scheduling is something we talked about for subsequent years," said Nick Carparelli, the Big East associate commissioner for football operations. "It's up to the individual institutions to schedule; all we can do is advise and encourage them.

"We continue to emphasize the importance of getting quality in the non-conference schedules. It's important for several reasons, especially television."

Carparelli said he wasn't going to comment on other conferences' non-league schedules, but said he does feel that "on average" the Big East teams' non-league schedules are no weaker than other BCS leagues.

However, the Big East is trying to rebuild its stature since the exit of Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech and Boston College to the ACC. Tranghese has said, repeatedly, in the past that the best thing the Big East can do "is schedule games and win our share of them."

The Big East also has more non-conference games that can make an impact, because as the smallest BCS conference (eight teams), only seven league games are scheduled.

"There's no question it's a down year (2007)," Carparelli said.

West Virginia plays two out-of-conference games against BCS opponents next season -- home against Mississippi State and at Maryland. Cincinnati, which played toughies at Ohio State and Virginia Tech this season, has no BCS league teams on the 2007 schedule.

Syracuse, with three, has the most BCS non-league opponents. Rutgers, coming off a 10-2 regular season and Texas Bowl date against Kansas State (7-5), has only one non-league road game, against weak Army. The four home foes are Navy, Maryland, Buffalo and Division I-AA Norfolk State.

Here's another reason the Big East programs should want to play BCS non-conference foes. The Big East pays its schools $101,694 per network TV appearance in road games -- but only for visiting a BCS school.

So, WVU had an ESPN2 game at East Carolina, but no check. Only one Big East road date with a BCS foe got onto ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 in 2006 -- Rutgers' opening win at North Carolina.

Beginning in 2008, Carparelli said the future of the Big East teams' non-conference scheduling is more to the league office's liking. That includes WVU's home-and-home series with Maryland, Auburn, Michigan State and Florida State between 2008-13.

Pitt has an eight-game series through 2015 with Notre Dame, which also plays Rutgers annually starting in 2010. The Panthers meet Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech and Clemson. Syracuse has Penn State, BC and Virginia Tech. Louisville faces Georgia and Georgia Tech.

Cincinnati has home dates with N.C. State, the Buckeyes and Hokies. South Florida plays Michigan State, Miami and North Carolina. Connecticut meets Iowa, N.C. State and Virginia.

"What we've asked the schools to do is play two quality BCS schools a year -- one home and one road," Carparelli said. "I can tell you that some of our schools, like West Virginia and Louisville, for example, want to play people, but not many teams are willing to come to Morgantown or Louisville to play because they might get beat.

"We're a BCS conference. Our teams aren't going on the road and not get home dates in return."

No one expects that, but much of the positive the Big East gained in 2006 could be drained as teams play non-BCS opponents. That will diminish telecast opportunities and could become an issue in the strength of schedule factor in the BCS computer ratings.

http://www.dailymail.com/news/Sports/2006120616/

[Guest]

"What we've asked the schools to do is play two quality BCS schools a year -- one home and one road," Carparelli said. "I can tell you that some of our schools, like West Virginia and Louisville, for example, want to play people, but not many teams are willing to come to Morgantown or Louisville to play because they might get beat.

"We're a BCS conference. Our teams aren't going on the road and not get home dates in return."

Let's see how smazza (et al) response to these kinds of comments.

[ctbrown24]

http://www.nationalchamps.net/2007/earlybird/index.htm

(predicted top 25 for next year...would be nice!)

2007 Early Bird

Top 25 Preview

Click on each team for breakdown

1. Southern California

2. Michigan

3. Ohio State

4. Louisiana State

5. Oklahoma

6. Florida

7. West Virginia

8. Louisville

9. Virginia Tech

10. Texas

11. Arkansas

12. Wisconsin

13. Nebraska

14. Tennessee

15. UCLA

16. Auburn

17. Wake Forest

18. Texas A&M

19. California

20. Boston College

21. Notre Dame

22. South Carolina

23. Georgia

24. Penn State

25. South Florida

[BullyPulpit]

Actually, we have very little problem with the schedule next year. That Auburn win on the road, coupled with a road win over Rutgers and home wins over WVU and Louisville will be as impressive as just about any other National Title Contenders

[E.T.]

I am thinking the same thing BP  8-)

Beat the pirates!

[windbane]

wow, aren't we special to have the only scheduled ranked team next year.  

[E.T.]

Yeah, but we never know how teams will be ... look at this year's PreSeason Top 25 ... and I remember not too long ago when Auburn was PreSeason ranked #1  

[JerseyPirate]

Actually, we have very little problem with the schedule next year. That Auburn win on the road, coupled with a road win over Rutgers and home wins over WVU and Louisville will be as impressive as just about any other National Title Contenders

Heh, I like it.  Always thinking big!!!  Just lose on the 23rd before starting your win streak.

We have dreams of beating VT in Blacksburg to start the season next year also.

[usf97]

As has been mentioned in the article....like Louisville and UWV...we are going to find it harder for good teams to schedule a 1 and 1 with us. I mean seriously...Kansas, UNC, Miami, Michigan State and those schools scheduled us because they assume that will be 2 wins. If and when we win, the alumni and boosters of the school aren't going to be too happy with a loss to lowly, unknown USF. I think it has been good that Woolard has already booked so many future games.

[BULLfreak]

http://www.nationalchamps.net/2007/earlybird/index.htm

(predicted top 25 for next year...would be nice!)

2007 Early Bird

Top 25 Preview

Click on each team for breakdown

1. Southern California

2. Michigan

3. Ohio State

4. Louisiana State

5. Oklahoma

6. Florida

7. West Virginia

8. Louisville

9. Virginia Tech

10. Texas

11. Arkansas

12. Wisconsin

13. Nebraska

14. Tennessee

15. UCLA

16. Auburn

17. Wake Forest

18. Texas A&M

19. California

20. Boston College

21. Notre Dame

22. South Carolina

23. Georgia

24. Penn State

25. South Florida

looks like these guys think that the Rutgers season was luck ,as I do too, they are not even in their top 25