Rutgers coach Schiano Waits to Make QB Call
Rutgers has a few extra days to prepare for it’s opener. The Scarlett Knights will host Cincinnati on Labor Day at the newly expanded Rutgers Stadium. At least early in the week, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano still did not want to name his starting quarterback.
Fifth-year senior Domenic Natale is battling with true freshman Tom Savage for the starters role. Schiano says fifth-year senior Jabu Lovelace will also play. Lovelace has worked exclusively in a gun-run package.
The Rutgers coaching staff has moved 6-foot-6, 245 pound former quarterback D.C. Jefferson to tight end. Jefferson is a Florida native who was considered one of the top high school quarterback prospects in the nation two years ago. He reneged on a verbal committment to LSU in order to sign with Rutgers.
New Syracuse Coach Explains his QB Call:
One of the key decisions made by first year Syracuse coach Doug Marrone this summer was to give former Duke basketball standout Greg Paulus a chance as the Orange starting quarterback. Marrone, who left his position as offensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints to take over the moribund Syracuse program, issued an invitation for Paulus to try out early this summer. Paulus was an All-American high school football player with one year of football eligibility remaining.
"He just kind of fell into our laps," Marrone said. "We had named a starter in the spring in Ryan Nassib. Greg was looking for a place to pursue a graduate degree, although I don’t know if playing football was on his mind at the time. But he got a call from an NFL team asking him to try out and that kind of lit a spark in him.
"He eventually came on the team," Marrone added. "He was very competitive and had great leadership ability. Greg was able to take in most of the offense and at the end of the day, we felt that our best chances of winning came with Greg at quarterback. We are excited about it."
Marrone is set to coach his first game at his alma mater Saturday at home against Minnesota.
"It is a dream job," Marrone admitted. "I am excited to be back. The best part of being back is being able to reconnect with some people you haven’t been in touch with since you left. There are a lot of people coming back into the program and coming back for our games."
Pre-Season Pick Pitt Looking for Runners
Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt believes his team is set at quarterback with starter Bill Stull and backup Pat Bostick. The Panthers biggest hole could be at tailback where they have to replace the production (1,488 yards, 21 touchdowns) of LeSean McCoy who left early for the NFL.
"In the college game you are going to have turnover," Wannstedt said. "Whether its graduation or players leaving early for the NFL. It just happened that the three guys we had carry the ball all left the same year.
"From an ability standpoint, all of our (remaining) backs have talent. They just need experience. Its a matter of going out and just doing it."
Sophomore Shariff Harris is the only back who has carried the ball during a game. Chris Burns was redshirted last year. The Panthers signed five freshman running backs for 2009 including one–Dion Lewis–who enrolled in time for spring drills.
Unfinished Business the Theme at South Florida
Bulls coach Jim Levitt had to replace both coordinators following an 8-5 season in which South Florida won just two Big East Conference games. Mike Canales takes over on offense as he inherits senior quarterback Matt Grothe. Joe Tresey will coordinate a defense led by a healthy George Selvie. Selvie and Grothe where both sophomores in 2007 when South Florida started 6-0 and reached No. 2 in the country. Since then, however, South Florida is just 5-8 in Big East play.
Grothe and Selvie run the risk of ending their college careers without a Big East Conference title.
"We want a Big East Championship," Selvie told reporters at Big East media day this summer. "There is a lot riding on this season. I feel like we have the best chance of winning of any season I have been here."
South Florida will open Saturday at home against Wofford. Games with Western Kentucky and Charleston Southern will follow as warm ups for a trip to Florida State on September 26. South Florida also has Miami on it’s non conference schedule. The Hurricanes will visit Tampa in late November.
Defense Must Improve at Louisville
Louisville allowed an average of 29.8 points per game in 2008. A promising 5-2 start was wrecked by a defensive unit that allowed 195 points during a five game losing streak to end the season.
"Defensively, we have the talent. Now it is time to make a stand and just go out and get it done," Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe said.
Louisville also has a new defensive coordinator in Brent Guy.
Kragthorpe himself has taken over as offensive coordinator as he replaces Jeff Brohm in that capacity.
"That is where my background is and that is where I am comfortable," Kragthorpe said. "I think we have a chance to really be exciting with the play makers we have."
Victor Anderson was the first in Louisville history to rush for over 1,000 yards as a freshman. He is back for his second season. Louisville also has several talented receivers. The question mark is at quarterback where North Carolina State transfer Justin Burke and junior-college All-American Adam Froman are battling.
Louisville will open the season Saturday vs. Indiana State at the newly expanded Papa John’s Stadium.
Defending Champs Wait Until Labor Day to Open
Cincinnati is the league’s winningest program over the past two seasons as the Bearcats have gone 21-6 to edge the Mountaineers who are 20-6 since the start of the 2007 season. Yet the Bearcats will not begin the season ranked, nor will any other Big East team.
"We are establishing our program right now," Kelly said. "A lot of this has to do with perception. Its not like we can harken back to our national championship days or to the times when we played for national championships. We are still a work in progress from that standpoint. But we have finished the season the last two years ranked in the top 25. I can guarantee you there will be somebody in the Big East ranked in the top 25. That is all that matters."
Kelly says it is not ideal opening with a league opponent, but his team will be ready.
"There are not any secrets," Kelly said. Both teams know each other very well. There will be no suprises . The team that executes the best will win."