Big East Update

With the conference busy searching for programs that want to join it as football-only members--that's you Service Academies!--the teams currently in the conference are busy battling it out for a BCS berth (say what you will about it, it still counts).

Rutgers, of all teams, has taken the early lead with a two-game sweep of the traitorous duo, Syracuse and Pitt. While RU has played the Panthers well recently--Saturday's win was their fifth in seven games--no one expected a 34-10 rout. But Saturday's win showcased the need for Rutgers (I won't call them the Scarlet Knights since they opted for all black) to keep New Jersey talent home. QB Gary Nova, a frosh from Elmwood Park who led fabled Don Bosco HS to a national title, received his first start under center and played well, CB Logan Ryan of Berlin had two picks, including one he returned for finishing TD, and was named BE D player of the week, LB Khaseem Greene of Elizabeth (# 20 in photo tackling brother Ray Graham, who did play well with 164y rushing) led the team with 11 tackles, FB Joe Martinek of Hopatcong took a screen 60y for TD and LB Steve Beauharnais set up the team's first TD with an INT.

Rutgers still has five conference games remaining, but they play West Virginia, USF and Cincinnati at home. What is almost as important as winning is the impression they are making on prospects as they play as well as they have played in a few years during a picture-perfect day. Keep up the good play and the kids will come.