2008 Big East Discussion

[BB73]

This Big East preview focuses on Bill Stewart and WVU.

sportsline

Big East: New coach, same old dominant Mountaineers

Clutching a cold beer on the steps of The Eisenhower House last month, Bill Stewart was ruminating about the beauty of Bud Light, Narragansett Bay, sunsets and hitting the coaching lottery at age 55.

"Life is great, isn't it?" West Virginia's new head coach said.

It is for him. While Rich Rodriguez put West Virginia back on the national map, Stewart is ready to give the program a heartfelt personality. Spend a few minutes with him and you immediately enter his orbit. Stewart is a force that has players, fans and recruits excited that the winning can go on in Morgantown post-Rich Rod.

Add media to the charmed list. The Mountaineers' former tight ends coach was the hit of the media day in Newport, R.I. At that Eisenhower House clambake the night before, the guy was just truly glad to be there. If Stewart wasn't propping up his Heisman candidate quarterback Pat White -- "We need to savor what this kid does" -- he was reprising that magic moment in January when he was named head coach after a Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.

"I thought of all the great people in West Virginia," Stewart said. "All the people like me who grew up in a trailer. ... All the people who think we're corny and backwards and all that stuff. We have some pretty smart cats back there too, tucked in those beautiful hills of West -- By God! -- Virginia."

Cont'd ...

 

[BB73]

si.com

Pitt loses DE Fulmer to knee injury

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pitt has lost starting defensive end Doug Fulmer to a knee injury, the third year in a row injuries have ended Fulmer's season.
Fulmer tore a ligament in his left knee and will need surgery. An MRI revealed the injury Monday, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said Tuesday.

Fulmer was hurt during practice Sunday as he attempted to bounce back from season-ending injuries the past two years.

Fulmer started three of the first four games in 2006 before being lost for
the season with a broken ankle against the Citadel. In 2007, Fulmer hurt his right knee in spring workouts and missed last season after having surgery.

Cont'd ...

 

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Freshman Saddler will redshirt after torn ACL ends his season - College Football

Freshman Saddler will redshirt after torn ACL ends his season

PITTSBURGH -- Pitt freshman wide receiver and kick returner Cameron Saddler will miss the season because of a knee injury.

Saddler tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a punt return drill on Tuesday. He had an MRI exam Thursday and will have surgery. Saddler will redshirt the season, the team said Thursday.

Saddler is the second Pitt player to sustain a season-ending knee injury in preseason camp. Junior redshirt defensive end Doug Fulmer tore ligaments in his left knee on Sunday.

 

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Wannstedt gets vote of confidence from athletic director - College Football

Wannstedt gets vote of confidence from athletic director

PITTSBURGH -- Dave Wannstedt still has the support of his athletic director, despite the fact his Pittsburgh football team lost its season opener to Bowling Green.

"In these situations, nobody's more disappointed than Dave and our team at the results of the game," athletic director Steve Pederson said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "But I also know there isn't any group that's going to work harder to get us back on track than Dave and his coaches and the team. For Dave, this isn't really a job, this is a passion. He's dedicated to building a winning program here and he has all of our support as he works at that."

Pitt was a 13?-point favorite over Bowling Green, but lost 27-17 on Saturday. Wannstedt, who played at Pittsburgh, has won just five of his last 18 games as the Panthers' head coach. He's 16-20 in his fourth season.

Contd....

 

[Dryden]

ESPN - Wannstedt gets vote of confidence from athletic director - College Football

That's never good.

Fired by Week 8?

 

[BB73]

The Big East in Week 1.

Wins over FBS (Div. 1-A opponents):
None: 0-2 versus BCS teams, and 0-2 while hosting non-BCS FBS teams

Average margin in games against FBS teams:
18-point loss

Home wins over FCS(1-AA) teams (4):

at CINCINNATI 40, E. Ky 7
at UCONN 35, Hofstra 3
at WEST VA. 48, Villanova 21
at USF 56, Tenn-Martin 7

Home Losses:
Kentucky 27, at LOUISVILLE 2
Bowling Green 27, at PITT 17
Fresno St. 24, at RUTGERS 7

Road Losses
at NW'ern 30, Syracuse 10

 

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Cincinnati's Grutza has surgery on fractured right leg - College Football

Cincinnati's Grutza has surgery on fractured right leg

CINCINNATI -- Quarterback Dustin Grutza had surgery Wednesday for a broken right leg, an injury sustained in the second half of Cincinnati's 52-26 loss at Oklahoma.

Grutza broke his right fibula and sprained his right ankle when he was sacked in the fourth quarter Saturday. The school said the surgery leaves Grutza sidelined indefinitely.

The senior quarterback took over this season for Ben Mauk, who led the Bearcats to a No. 17 ranking last year. Mauk used up his eligibility last season, and has lost appeals to the NCAA and to an Ohio court for one more year of playing time.

Junior Tony Pike has taken over as the starting quarterback. Pike played in five games last season as a reserve, going 11-of-20 for 91 yards with three interceptions.