By Paul Sykes
Seven Big East schools took to the turf. Counting Louisville’s disappointing and sloppy loss to Utah 30-14, the conference went 5-2 overall and 2-1 against the Atlantic Coast Conference.
- Cincinnati hosted Fresno State and improved to 4-0 with a 28-20 win. Fresno State dominated the time of possession but could not slow down quarterback Tony Pike who threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Favorite receiver Mardy Gilyard hauled in two of them. The Bearcats travel to Miami, Ohio this week.
- South Florida remained unbeaten by shocking Florida State in Tallahassee, 17-7. Redshirt freshman QB B.J. Daniels filled in well for Matt Grothe, tossing for two TD’s, running for 126 yards and throwing for 215. The 4-0 Bulls go to Syracuse.
- Pitt lost its first game, 38-31, after leading most of the way against North Carolina State in Raleigh. Pitt didn’t have an answer for Pack QB Russell Wilson who torched the Panthers for four TD tosses, 322 passing yards and another 91 rushing. 3-1 Pitt travels to Louisville for a Friday night game.
- UConn improved to 3-1 with a shellacking of Rhode Island 52-10 The Huskies held the Rams to five first downs and 148 offensive yards at East Hartford. UConn takes this week off.
- Rutgers improved to 3-1 also with a 34-14 drubbing of host Maryland. They forced the Terrapins into five turnovers and rolled up 207 yards rushing. They sit out next week also.
- Syracuse is now 2-2 after rolling past Maine 41-24. The Orange needed 28 second half points to put the Black Bears away, trailing by four at halftime. Greg Paulus went 21-28 from the field for 270 yards and two touchdown tosses. The Orange host USF next week.
- West Virginia was idle and welcomes Colorado to Morgantown for a Thursday night game.
With the loss to Utah, the Cards are the only Big East team under .500 for the season.
I’m willing to bet by the end of the season we will also be under .500 for Kragthorpe’s career here.