WVU again picked to win Big East football title
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
By Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Despite a new coach, new tailback and rebuilt defense, West Virginia University's Mountaineers once again have been voted by Big East media as the favorite to win the conference's 2008 football title -- a seemingly safe bet after winning four of the past five.
The Mountaineers, the Big East champion last season, received 22 of the possible 24 first-place votes and 189 poll points from media members in the league's eight markets. South Florida, 9-4 last season and a team that defeated West Virginia each of the previous two seasons, received one first-place vote and 149 points to finish second.
Pitt, coming off a 5-7 season that included a season-finale upset of a Mountaineers team needing a victory for a national-championship berth, received the other first-place vote and came in third with 128 points.
Rutgers (110 points), Cincinnati (98), Connecticut (97), Louisville (69) and Syracuse (24) round out the poll.
With longtime assistant Bill Stewart assuming control from Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and tailback Noel Devine replacing NFL draftee Steve Slaton of the Houston Texans, a slightly remodeled West Virginia team -- still with two-time Big East offensive player of the year Patrick White at quarterback -- opens its season Aug. 30 against Villanova. Pitt opens the same day against Bowling Green.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
By Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Despite a new coach, new tailback and rebuilt defense, West Virginia University's Mountaineers once again have been voted by Big East media as the favorite to win the conference's 2008 football title -- a seemingly safe bet after winning four of the past five.
The Mountaineers, the Big East champion last season, received 22 of the possible 24 first-place votes and 189 poll points from media members in the league's eight markets. South Florida, 9-4 last season and a team that defeated West Virginia each of the previous two seasons, received one first-place vote and 149 points to finish second.
Pitt, coming off a 5-7 season that included a season-finale upset of a Mountaineers team needing a victory for a national-championship berth, received the other first-place vote and came in third with 128 points.
Rutgers (110 points), Cincinnati (98), Connecticut (97), Louisville (69) and Syracuse (24) round out the poll.
With longtime assistant Bill Stewart assuming control from Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and tailback Noel Devine replacing NFL draftee Steve Slaton of the Houston Texans, a slightly remodeled West Virginia team -- still with two-time Big East offensive player of the year Patrick White at quarterback -- opens its season Aug. 30 against Villanova. Pitt opens the same day against Bowling Green.
THATS GREAT AS LONG AS HE ISNT COMING BACK TO THIS FORUM.
:finger: THE BIG EAST SUCKS WHY ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT THAT CONFERENCE ANYMORE.I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL A LOT OF FUNNY THINGS HAPPEN IN THOSE GAMMES THIS IS WHERE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR FIXED GAMES.
:finger: THE BIG EAST SUCKS WHY ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT THAT CONFERENCE ANYMORE.I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL A LOT OF FUNNY THINGS HAPPEN IN THOSE GAMMES THIS IS WHERE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR FIXED GAMES.
talk about some dumb athletes
Two West Virginia University basketball players were charged with scuffling with police and underage drinking after a fight at a Pittsburgh Pirates game.
Joe Mazzulla and Cameron Thoroughman were arrested Monday at PNC Park, where the Pirates were playing the Colorado Rockies. The two were in custody and awaiting arraignment Tuesday.
"We will let the judicial process take its course and the matter will be handled internally," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said.
Mazzulla, a 6-foot-2 junior from Johnston, R.I., was charged with aggravated assault, hindering apprehension and underage drinking. Thoroughman, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from Portsmouth, Ohio, was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and underage drinking.
The 20-year-old players began arguing with police when they refused a request for identification, according to a criminal complaint. The officers said the two smelled of alcohol.
Thoroughman said he did not have ID, according to the report. Police said he lied about his age and threatened a security guard. Police said officers brought Thoroughman to the ground when he refused to put his arms behind his back. While Thoroughman was struggling with the officer, Mazzulla tried to grab his teammate and punched a police sergeant.
Mazzulla was a reserve in all 37 of the team's games last season. He averaged 5.8 points and was third on the team in steals. Thoroughman appeared in 16 games, averaging 1.3 rebounds.
Two West Virginia University basketball players were charged with scuffling with police and underage drinking after a fight at a Pittsburgh Pirates game.
Joe Mazzulla and Cameron Thoroughman were arrested Monday at PNC Park, where the Pirates were playing the Colorado Rockies. The two were in custody and awaiting arraignment Tuesday.
"We will let the judicial process take its course and the matter will be handled internally," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said.
Mazzulla, a 6-foot-2 junior from Johnston, R.I., was charged with aggravated assault, hindering apprehension and underage drinking. Thoroughman, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from Portsmouth, Ohio, was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and underage drinking.
The 20-year-old players began arguing with police when they refused a request for identification, according to a criminal complaint. The officers said the two smelled of alcohol.
Thoroughman said he did not have ID, according to the report. Police said he lied about his age and threatened a security guard. Police said officers brought Thoroughman to the ground when he refused to put his arms behind his back. While Thoroughman was struggling with the officer, Mazzulla tried to grab his teammate and punched a police sergeant.
Mazzulla was a reserve in all 37 of the team's games last season. He averaged 5.8 points and was third on the team in steals. Thoroughman appeared in 16 games, averaging 1.3 rebounds.
