The problem when you’re team is in a conference that is ostensibly in the BCS, but treated by everyone else as if it was a mid-major, is that the top team can’t blow it. Part (not all) of what has dragged the BE further down in terms of reputation the last couple of years has been the fact that the pre-season team pegged for big things has absolutely gakked it away.
This creates a conflict for a fan of another team in the conference. The usual joy one would take in seeing the presumptive conference winner, lose is tempered by the knowledge of what it means for the conference. Takes some of the fun out of it when you have to worry about a collective good.
Pitt in 2003 and WVU last year, both came into the season with big expectations. Expected to win the BE (or at least for Pitt in 2003 mount a credible challenge to outgoing Miami) by pundits and prognosticators. Instead both the teams and coaches wilted under the pressure and unearned respect. Giving everyone else reason to denigrate, mock and complain about the Big East.
Louisville entered the Big East with that mantle and has had the same fate befall it. Now obviously, this means the BE suddenly seems much more wide open for any team than before Louisville got humiliated by South Florida — even Rutgers suddenly believes it has a chance.
Pitt, also has a chance, just like last year. For Pitt, there is the added bonus that the loss to USF in 2001 is no longer the biggest win for the Bulls in their brief history. So, thank you Louisville and Bobby Petrino for taking that honor. That ’01 stain is not erased from my memory, but it has had a bit of bleach tossed on it.
WVU should be the favorite at the moment with 1 conference win, and winning on the road in Maryland. But nearly giving the game away to East Carolina this past weekend puts that in question. UConn, USF and Cinci just don’t seem capable. Syracuse may have hung close with UVA, but they already lost to WVU and outside of Damien Rhodes, they don’t have much of an offense. Pitt hasn’t proven anything yet. Rutgers, barely more than Pitt.
Louisville may still win the BE, but they aren’t helping it now.
