You know, there’s something about the Big East and the member programs that continually miss opportunities, moments and chances. I don’t know how or why, but as much as anything else the history of the Big East is about moments that could transform or change the entire face of programs and the conference — and waiting until after the moment has passed to make a move.

If Villanova had made the decision anytime before 2010, they would be in or on their way to being a full Big East member. The stadium would have been less of an issue to the members simply because the Big East football schools really, really, really wanted that 9th football member.

Up until the point last fall when it came out that TCU would join the Big East, the only way it seemed that the Big East would add that 9th member in football it would be from within. The basketball schools seemed intent on blocking other options, and there was no slam dunk option out there.

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In what is increasingly becoming a one-horse race, Tino Sunseri continues to impress the coaching staff as the de facto starting QB.  Paul Zeise has, in what is a departure of sorts for him, a two page article on this subject.  Somehow Zeise swings and misses by giving the PITT team a 9-4 record in 2010 but other than that it’s a good look at where Sunseri is at this point.

But just to be contrary I’ll also disagree with this statement: “Sunseri improved as the season went on and felt more comfortable in the offense. Now he has been asked to start over again in a new offense, and he believes the transition is almost complete.” Really, Sunseri hit a high point in mid-season then went downhill over the last six games, but why nitpick when writing a puff piece?

Coach Graham weighs in on the progress so far in these spring practices and how it compares to his other coaching gigs… from the Trib-Review:

“We are coming together as a football team,” he said. “We are mentally way ahead of where I thought we would be. We coached them hard, put them in situations where they really weren’t in shape to go at.”

He said spring practice at Pitt went better than it did in initial drills at his previous coaching outposts (Rice and Tulsa).  One similarity: “We didn’t have the speed we wanted, but we developed it,” he said.

In his only season at Rice, the Owls were 7-6 and went to their first bowl game in 45 years. The next year, at Tulsa, he led the team to a 10-4 record.  “The difference (at Pitt) is we are playing a heckuva lot tougher opponents,” he said.

Well Todd, you have heckuva lot better athletes than you did at those schools also so we’ll still expect a very good first season – whether you have the ‘speed’ you want or not.

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