"The Big EAst is tougher than the Big 10" -Dennis Dodd

[hbryan]

Think about it -  Les Miles leaving LSU for Michigan.  It almost happened.

And the only reason it didn't was because he ended up in the BCS Championship game.  Lucky for DickRod bad for WVU, unless of course they hire Locksley from Illini.

[Bullpride08]

Step back, all you critics, because Rodriguez took a step up

Updated: Dec/16/2007 08:04 PM

Rich Rodriguez finally found a place where it's easier to win a national championship; where the consolation prize can sometimes be the Rose Bowl.

The Big Ten.

The week-in, week-out meat grinder that is the Big East finally forced him to Michigan for more money and less stress. OK, that's a simplification, but not much of one. That's the current state of the Michigan and West Virginia programs after Rodriguez became the Wolverines' 17th coach on Sunday. You don't say no to Michigan, so when you consummate the relationship it's hard to believe things are going to be easier.

The Big Ten is at one of its low points. No one would doubt that. Ohio State is playing in the BCS title game for the second consecutive year and the worldwide perception is that it somehow doesn't belong there. Does Jim Tressel care? No, but hang with me.

The Big East, meanwhile, has turned into what the Big Ten used to be. Tough. Competitive. In early November 2006, it had three undefeated teams. Earlier this season, South Florida was ranked second. Three of the conference's eight teams are ranked heading into the bowls. Rodriguez's old team has won at least a share of four of the past five Big East titles.

The Big East is so tough that Michigan AD Bill Martin ought to be sending thank you cards to Pittsburgh. Had not the Panthers knocked West Virginia out of the national title race on Dec. 1, it's doubtful Rodriguez would have been available.

Playing for it all at LSU certainly had to factor in Les Miles' decision not to come. But that's ancient history. A very public and, at times, a very messy process is over. Martin's third option sure does seem like a top choice at this point.

Sure, Rodriguez was hired to do one thing above all others -- beat Ohio State -- but moving up a notch makes his overall task less difficult. Consider that those Buckeyes lost on Nov. 10 to unranked Illinois, did not beat a top 20 team (at kickoff) this season for the first time in 71 years and find themselves back in the title picture.

Hey, in any given year that could be you, Michigan -- with minimal improvement from Rodriguez.

That scenario also couldn't happen in the Big East. Rutgers went 10-2 in the regular season last year and found itself playing in the Texas Bowl.

You don't say no to Michigan, but Rod already had turned down another superpower, Alabama. It's weird how circumstances can congeal to make a guy neck in the back seat with 'Bama but walk to the altar with Michigan after a couple of days of dating.

Maybe it's the fact that this is a chance he'll never get again. Blow off Alabama and Michigan and there aren't too many top 10 programs left. Plus, he had done just about everything he could do in Morgantown.

As Rodriguez said on many occasions, you fly over West Virginia and you see more deer stands than rooftops. That's another way of saying he had to recruit his butt off just to get the Mountaineers to where they are now.

Believe me, it won't be that hard at Michigan. The whole program will be energized. Rodriguez will seamlessly transfer his spread offense to the Big House. It fits the culture because Rod's spread might be the only one in the country that features a power running game.

The expectations will be out the wazoo but Rodriguez will have: 1.) Facilities. The building going on in Ann Arbor right now makes it look like a city within a city.

2.) Recruits. The nation's No. 1 quarterback recruit, Terrelle Pryor from Pennsylvania, told Superprep.com he just added Michigan to his list. That was after Rodriguez had been wooing him to West Virginia.

3.) Support. Not necessarily from the 110,000 on a weekly basis but, for now, Lloyd Carr, who seemed to be the puppet master in the search. All of it means Rodriguez can devote more of his time to the playing field than in the AD's office begging for more resources.

After reading the CBSSports.com message boards there seemed to be a feeling that Rodriguez "owed" more to West Virginia. Horse spit.

• Rodriguez was a West Virginia native who was there seven years, got the program to its highest level ever. (That includes the 21 years Don Nehlen was there.) That makes Bobby Petrino practically looked indentured considering his four, long, hard years at Louisville.

• Rodriguez is no idiot. He didn't really want to go to Alabama last year but after word leaked out that he "agreed in principle" (whatever that means) to coach the Tide, Rodriguez used it as leverage to get construction of a new academic center and stadium suites fast tracked. Those are gifts that will keep on giving after Rodriguez's coaching career is over.

• Richy Rich didn't owe the school a thing because he knows the industry. Nine years ago, the story goes, he was promised the Tulane job after his boss Tommy Bowden left for Clemson. The job went instead to Chris Scelfo, who was fired last year.

Where would Rodriguez be if he gotten Tulane, instead of starting a career arc toward Morgantown? Certainly not at Michigan.

"There are very few Michigans," Nehlen told the Detroit News. "When you coach at West Virginia you walk on water in West Virginia, but when you coach at Michigan, you walk on water, period. There's a difference. Some people around here don't want to believe that."

Let's make sure everyone understands this: Rich Rodriguez got a promotion. He moved up. Got a better job. What would you do, Mr. 9-to-5?

Michigan is making a living at raiding West Virginia coaches. First it was John Beilein in basketball. Now it's Rodriguez.

In the pecking order of big-time college athletics, that's Darwin, baby.

Although I'm still not sure Miles is out of the running.

http://www.sportsline.com/colu.../entry/10507458

Where's the Pig?

when big east teams start playing big ten teams and beating them on the road i will buy into this

until then i think big ten  is still tougher place to play

usf cant handle ru/uconn on road and has lost to other big eas teams on the road

big ten would be quite the challenge

They've been doing it for decades knucklehead...look at Pitt's history for once, Da Cuse too.  Just because it hasn't happened as much the past three years since USF joined doesn't mean the BE hasn't been playing meaningful football before hand.  Hell since we arrived Pitt has beaten MSU once, Uconn IU, and RU beat Illini...

[Bullpride08]

when big east teams start playing big ten teams and beating them on the road i will buy into this

until then i think big ten  is still tougher place to play

usf cant handle ru/uconn on road and has lost to other big eas teams on the road

big ten would be quite the challenge

The Big Ten is just that...BIG and SLOW.

USF and most of the Big East could easily beat teams in the Big Ten.  I was praying for a USF-OSU BCS Title game...that would have been a hoot!

GO BULLS!!!

in case you missed it... USF can't handle teams that are big, "slow", and powerful.  OSU would run the ball right at USF 70 times and we couldn't stop them. 

Oh please, that's asinine.  Right now there isn't a team in the B10 that would beat USF by two TD's.  Hell USF beat Auburn in Auburn (a 'big slow and powerful' team) and Auburn was a last play miracle catch from beating the NC contender LSU team that everyone believes will demolish OSU.  Just because Ray Rice has been a thorn in our side doesn't mean we can't stop big, slow, and powerful teams...we did ok against Auburn, Pitt, UCF, and Cinci that all had 'big, slow, and powerful' running attacks.

In fact, I think there are only about 5-6 teams in the entire nation that would beat us by more than a TD- maybe USC, LSU, UF, OK, and maybe Missou....those teams aside I would put USF against anyone else, anyone and believe we could beat just about anyone this year if we got to play them at full strength.

[smazza]

when big east teams start playing big ten teams and beating them on the road i will buy into this

until then i think big ten  is still tougher place to play

usf cant handle ru/uconn on road and has lost to other big eas teams on the road

big ten would be quite the challenge

The Big Ten is just that...BIG and SLOW.

USF and most of the Big East could easily beat teams in the Big Ten.  I was praying for a USF-OSU BCS Title game...that would have been a hoot!

GO BULLS!!!

in case you missed it... USF can't handle teams that are big, "slow", and powerful.  OSU would run the ball right at USF 70 times and we couldn't stop them. 

Oh please, that's asinine.  Right now there isn't a team in the B10 that would beat USF by two TD's.  Hell USF beat Auburn in Auburn (a 'big slow and powerful' team) and Auburn was a last play miracle catch from beating the NC contender LSU team that everyone believes will demolish OSU.  Just because Ray Rice has been a thorn in our side doesn't mean we can't stop big, slow, and powerful teams...we did ok against Auburn, Pitt, UCF, and Cinci that all had 'big, slow, and powerful' running attacks.

In fact, I think there are only about 5-6 teams in the entire nation that would beat us by more than a TD- maybe USC, LSU, UF, OK, and maybe Missou....those teams aside I would put USF against anyone else, anyone and believe we could beat just about anyone this year if we got to play them at full strength.

I GUESS YOU DIDNT SEE RU,UCONN OR CINNCY GAMES

[smazza]

Step back, all you critics, because Rodriguez took a step up

Updated: Dec/16/2007 08:04 PM

Rich Rodriguez finally found a place where it's easier to win a national championship; where the consolation prize can sometimes be the Rose Bowl.

The Big Ten.

The week-in, week-out meat grinder that is the Big East finally forced him to Michigan for more money and less stress. OK, that's a simplification, but not much of one. That's the current state of the Michigan and West Virginia programs after Rodriguez became the Wolverines' 17th coach on Sunday. You don't say no to Michigan, so when you consummate the relationship it's hard to believe things are going to be easier.

The Big Ten is at one of its low points. No one would doubt that. Ohio State is playing in the BCS title game for the second consecutive year and the worldwide perception is that it somehow doesn't belong there. Does Jim Tressel care? No, but hang with me.

The Big East, meanwhile, has turned into what the Big Ten used to be. Tough. Competitive. In early November 2006, it had three undefeated teams. Earlier this season, South Florida was ranked second. Three of the conference's eight teams are ranked heading into the bowls. Rodriguez's old team has won at least a share of four of the past five Big East titles.

The Big East is so tough that Michigan AD Bill Martin ought to be sending thank you cards to Pittsburgh. Had not the Panthers knocked West Virginia out of the national title race on Dec. 1, it's doubtful Rodriguez would have been available.

Playing for it all at LSU certainly had to factor in Les Miles' decision not to come. But that's ancient history. A very public and, at times, a very messy process is over. Martin's third option sure does seem like a top choice at this point.

Sure, Rodriguez was hired to do one thing above all others -- beat Ohio State -- but moving up a notch makes his overall task less difficult. Consider that those Buckeyes lost on Nov. 10 to unranked Illinois, did not beat a top 20 team (at kickoff) this season for the first time in 71 years and find themselves back in the title picture.

Hey, in any given year that could be you, Michigan -- with minimal improvement from Rodriguez.

That scenario also couldn't happen in the Big East. Rutgers went 10-2 in the regular season last year and found itself playing in the Texas Bowl.

You don't say no to Michigan, but Rod already had turned down another superpower, Alabama. It's weird how circumstances can congeal to make a guy neck in the back seat with 'Bama but walk to the altar with Michigan after a couple of days of dating.

Maybe it's the fact that this is a chance he'll never get again. Blow off Alabama and Michigan and there aren't too many top 10 programs left. Plus, he had done just about everything he could do in Morgantown.

As Rodriguez said on many occasions, you fly over West Virginia and you see more deer stands than rooftops. That's another way of saying he had to recruit his butt off just to get the Mountaineers to where they are now.

Believe me, it won't be that hard at Michigan. The whole program will be energized. Rodriguez will seamlessly transfer his spread offense to the Big House. It fits the culture because Rod's spread might be the only one in the country that features a power running game.

The expectations will be out the wazoo but Rodriguez will have: 1.) Facilities. The building going on in Ann Arbor right now makes it look like a city within a city.

2.) Recruits. The nation's No. 1 quarterback recruit, Terrelle Pryor from Pennsylvania, told Superprep.com he just added Michigan to his list. That was after Rodriguez had been wooing him to West Virginia.

3.) Support. Not necessarily from the 110,000 on a weekly basis but, for now, Lloyd Carr, who seemed to be the puppet master in the search. All of it means Rodriguez can devote more of his time to the playing field than in the AD's office begging for more resources.

After reading the CBSSports.com message boards there seemed to be a feeling that Rodriguez "owed" more to West Virginia. Horse spit.

• Rodriguez was a West Virginia native who was there seven years, got the program to its highest level ever. (That includes the 21 years Don Nehlen was there.) That makes Bobby Petrino practically looked indentured considering his four, long, hard years at Louisville.

• Rodriguez is no idiot. He didn't really want to go to Alabama last year but after word leaked out that he "agreed in principle" (whatever that means) to coach the Tide, Rodriguez used it as leverage to get construction of a new academic center and stadium suites fast tracked. Those are gifts that will keep on giving after Rodriguez's coaching career is over.

• Richy Rich didn't owe the school a thing because he knows the industry. Nine years ago, the story goes, he was promised the Tulane job after his boss Tommy Bowden left for Clemson. The job went instead to Chris Scelfo, who was fired last year.

Where would Rodriguez be if he gotten Tulane, instead of starting a career arc toward Morgantown? Certainly not at Michigan.

"There are very few Michigans," Nehlen told the Detroit News. "When you coach at West Virginia you walk on water in West Virginia, but when you coach at Michigan, you walk on water, period. There's a difference. Some people around here don't want to believe that."

Let's make sure everyone understands this: Rich Rodriguez got a promotion. He moved up. Got a better job. What would you do, Mr. 9-to-5?

Michigan is making a living at raiding West Virginia coaches. First it was John Beilein in basketball. Now it's Rodriguez.

In the pecking order of big-time college athletics, that's Darwin, baby.

Although I'm still not sure Miles is out of the running.

http://www.sportsline.com/colu.../entry/10507458

Where's the Pig?

when big east teams start playing big ten teams and beating them on the road i will buy into this

until then i think big ten  is still tougher place to play

usf cant handle ru/uconn on road and has lost to other big eas teams on the road

big ten would be quite the challenge

They've been doing it for decades knucklehead...look at Pitt's history for once, Da Cuse too.  Just because it hasn't happened as much the past three years since USF joined doesn't mean the BE hasn't been playing meaningful football before hand.  Hell since we arrived Pitt has beaten MSU once, Uconn IU, and RU beat Illini...

BIG EAST was bottom feeding

i Am talking real football against real teams and you comeback with the 3 of the worse teams in big ten at the respective time they played big east

yeah knucklehead

[Bull Martin]

Come on guys, you dont HAVE to quote the entire post.  After the initial post there are like 10 pages worth of wording, but only about 10 lines worth reading.

[MikeG]

when big east teams start playing big ten teams and beating them on the road i will buy into this

until then i think big ten  is still tougher place to play

usf cant handle ru/uconn on road and has lost to other big eas teams on the road

big ten would be quite the challenge

They've been doing it for decades knucklehead...look at Pitt's history for once, Da Cuse too.  Just because it hasn't happened as much the past three years since USF joined doesn't mean the BE hasn't been playing meaningful football before hand.  Hell since we arrived Pitt has beaten MSU once, Uconn IU, and RU beat Illini...

BIG EAST was bottom feeding

i Am talking real football against real teams and you comeback with the 3 of the worse teams in big ten at the respective time they played big east

yeah knucklehead

USF will get it's fair share of Big Ten matchups with home and homes scheduled with Indiana and Michigan State. And before you tell me those are bottom feeders steve-- they both are bowl teams this year.

Not exactly playing in the big house but a decent set of teams.

Why do you always want to discount the Big East and bash them for anything you can? What is your big gripe with the big east? I feel the conference has done some pretty credible things since the shocking defections of Miami, BC, and VaTech.

[TRUTH D. Antagonist]

Big east still the shortest route to the NC

you're nuts buddy.

Big East is one of the TOUGHEST routes to the NC.

we have to play everybody in the league, most teams have balanced home/road schedules, and we have less room for mistakes in terms of NC consideration than other conferences.

Big Televen, SEC, Big XII, etc. don't play everybody in the conference, making for weak schedules (i.e. Kansas).  FIVE of twelve SEC teams play 8 home games, or 7 + neutral.  two-loss SEC teams, Big XII teams, etc. get consideration for NC bids -- Big East teams are practically out the picture with 1 loss (Louisville wasn't even mentioned last year when everybody was flapping about OSU/Florida/Michigan).

6 of the 8 teams in the Big East were Top 20 at one point in the season. 4 of 8 were top 10.  2 were ranked in the top 2.

USF was officially FOURTH in the BEast, and we beat 3 conference champs. Pitt has a tough D and All-BEast running back in LeSean McCoy. WVU has White/Slaton. Rutgers Ray Rice, Britt, Underwood. Louisville Brian Brohm. Cinci had Mauk and Nakamura on D. UConn just a well-rounded fundamental team. 

u can lose any of those games.  the talent is spread around well in the Big East.

i'll take a schedule with pissants like Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin and then one tough matchup with Michigan or OSU at the end over games against WVU, Cinci, Rutgers and USF.

[TRUTH D. Antagonist]

teams like Pitt playing Michigan State is not quite bottom feeding. 

in case u havent noticed, Pitt hasnt exactly been a top-tier team itself the past few years.

if our bottom feeders beat other conference's bottom feeders, it only serves to prove that even our bad teams can give us a game.

[MikeG]

traditionally-- the Big East has been one of the easier routes to the NC game -- just ask Miami.

It's a little tougher this year and perhaps last year-- that may just be a small window of "toughness" or it could be a trend I see continuing.

Anyway-- it is what it is