We’re headed for asteroids next… Thanksgiving’s for vegetarians too… This is unbelievable. And could totally change the way we look at coma patients… A guy who Hollywood’s repeatedly cast as a terrorist is over in Afghanistan, helping us fight the real terrorists…

If you read one story in the entire roundup today, read this one. USF offensive coordinator Mike Canales’ wife is facing a real battle, with her husband’s charges beside her. (St. Petersburg Times)

Pulling the news from the coaches’ teleconference. (Connecticut Post)

Tony Pike is definitely starting Friday for Cincinnati. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Previewing that Cincinnati-Illinois warm-up for Pitt. (CBSSports.com)

Have we ever needed a playoff more? (Bleacher Report)

The money guys ask: why not keep Weis? (Forbes)

UConn deserves our rooting interest. (Dr. Saturday)

Even a bunch of rum can’t cloud how special that UConn win was. (nesn.com)

Meeting UConn tailback Jordan Todman. (Sporting News)

UConn got its first commit off the win. (Hartford Courant)

Steve Kragthorpe thinks he’s done enough to stay at Louisville. (SI.com)

And so, he’s looking to 2010. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

This is no ordinary Backyard Brawl. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Pitt’s whole revival goes back to that Brawl two years ago, when roles were reversed and Pitt played spoiler… There’s no geographic hometown loyalty in this game. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Dave Wannstedt doesn’t need anything fancy when it comes to an offense. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Adam Gunn’s tale of perseverance. (Times West Virginian)

Syracuse sacked him nine times and Tom Savage took a physical beating. But did the Rutgers freshman take a mental one too? … The best way to forget the league’s worst-team annhilated you? Talk about your bowl trip… Of course, in Greg Schiano’s nine years, Rutgers has had a lot of losses like this past one. (Star-Ledger)

Despite that clunker, the Meineke Car Care director isn’t eliminating Rutgers from his game just yet. (Home News Tribune)

Jim Leavitt admires Miami’s tradition. Shocker… This USF-Miami thing can really grow, btw. (Tampa Tribune)

Guess that answers the NY team thing. The NY Post wrote ran a story about only one coach’s Monday press conference: Syracuse’s. (NY Post) 

Bill Stewart isn’t saying if Noel Devine’s healthy. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Stewart is saying one thing: trick plays won’t win this one. (Register-Herald)

If Tom Savage had nightmares this weekend, there’s a good chance Doug Hogue was in them. If Rutgers’ offensive linemen had nightmares, Hogue definitely starred in them. The junior linebacker was an absolute beast in what’s easily Syracuse’s biggest win of the season.

Here’s the full slate of the Big East’s weekly best, straight from the league office…

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

B.J. Daniels • Fr. • QB • USF • Tallahassee, Fla. Daniels accounted for 445 yards of total offense and three touchdowns to lead USF to a 34-22 win against Louisville. He completed 20 of 34 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 141 yards and two TDs on 22 carries. He became the 28th player in NCAA Bowl Subdivision history — and the first BIG EAST player — to surpass 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in the same game.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Doug Hogue • Jr. • LB • Syracuse • Yonkers, N.Y. Hogue had 6.5 tackles for loss — the most by a BIG EAST player in a game this season — to go with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Syracuse’s 31-13 win against Rutgers. Hogue had seven tackles in the game to lead an Orange defense that limited the Scarlet Knights to 26 rushing yards and 130 total yards.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jordan Todman • So. • RB • Connecticut • North Dartmouth, Mass. Todman had 286 all-purpose yards, including a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, in Connecticut’s 33-30 win at Notre Dame in double-overtime. Todman’s touchdown on the long kickoff return answered a Notre Dame field goal and allowed the Huskies to enter the fourth quarter tied at 17-17. Todman, who had 156 yards on four kickoff returns, also ran for a game-high 130 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.

(more…)

What the heck is wrong with kids? … All you need to know about H1N1 … Of course Michael Jackson won four AMAs … If you’re cooking this week …

SI.com has projected bowl match-ups. (SI.com)

Yet another person thinks Brian Kelly is the perfect fit for Notre Dame. (CBSSports.com)

Because even Charlie Weis knows: it’s only a matter of time now. (Washington Post)

But it’s okay: Weis could be headed to Buffalo. (NFL News and Rumors)

The moral outrage on Cincinnati’s – and TCU’s – behalf can commence. (Dr. Saturday)

Fortunately Cincinnati’s computer strength should make up for TCU’s poll numbers. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

UConn’s win at Notre Dame will go down as program-changing. (The Register Citizen)

Good thing it was a win; Randy Edsall hadn’t even landed back in Connecticut before the league’s head of officials sent him a message” UConn got hosed on two late holding calls.(Hartford Courant)

Jasper Howard’s family got a game ball. (Connecticut Post)

UConn’s back in the bowl picture too. (The Day)

Louisville’s Dexter Heyman has taken to defensive end. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Dave Wannstedt has his blueprint for Friday’s Backyard Brawl… Which is only part of why West Virginia’s O-line knows it’s got a challenge ahead. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Frank Cignetti has changed Pitt’s offense… West Virginia’s seniors aren’t afraid. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Nine wins has exceeded expectations, but Pitt still desperately needs to get to 10. (Eye of a Panther)

UConn and Rutgers: the good and bad. Guess which is which. (NESN.com)

Rutgers’ offensive line has all sorts of issues. (Asbury Park Press)

At least the head coach is taking the blame. (Star-Ledger)

It was just like the old days for Syracuse. (Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician)

Funny thing, the Orange have been just as ready all year. Nice to see that finally result in something to smile about. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Yes, Jim Leavitt’s intense: he’s been taking a lesson from Owen Schmitt… A simpler game plan made all the difference for BJ Daniels. (St. Petersburg Times)

It’s not a Big East game, but Miami is definitely a BIG game for the Bulls. (Tampa Tribune)

A day after Rutgers’ 31-13 blowout loss at Syracuse, Schiano didn’t at all soften the blame he’d placed on himself and his staff Saturday evening.

“As I said (after the game), I just don’t feel like we did a good job coaching, and I don’t mean during the week,” he said. “I thought our football players worked extremely hard … We were a step behind all day coaching.”

Keep reading here.

PISCATAWAY – Syracuse has the “NY” on its helmets.

Syracuse has the taxicab ads, the ones that proclaim it “New York’s College Team,” and Syracuse has an athletic director who’s unfurled an 11-story banner sporting an orange apple in Times Square.

Rutgers has a coach with a GPS.           

“It’s not even close, other than Army – which is a service academy – it’s not even close which school is closest, which Division I institution is the closest to all of New York City, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester County,” that coach, Greg Schiano, said. “There’s no debating it. It’s not even close.”

Schiano spoke earlier this week, as he was readying his 7-2 Scarlet Knights (2-2 Big East) for Saturday’s kickoff up at woefully-undermanned Syracuse (3-7, 0-4). There was plenty football to talk, and plenty to be played up in the Carrier Dome Saturday, but Rutgers’ ninth-year coach couldn’t avoid this one topic. Because there’s also another game being played out far away from those snaps: the contest for New York.

Keep reading here.

PISCATAWAY – Antwan Lowery started jawing in camp.

Superstar left tackle or not, future first-round pick or not, Anthony Davis needed to hear some smack, Lowery thought. And he was the one who could dish it, the freshman defensive tackle figured.  Still figures. Even if fellow freshman Jamil Merrell thinks he’s nuts.

“I sure don’t want to get ‘AD’ too mad,” Merrell said Wednesday. “I won’t go to the point Antwan will. No matter how far we push AD, he’s still going to get us eventually.”

Yes, Davis does indeed eventually upend Rutgers’ scout team line. But not as much as he once did, center Ryan Blaszczyk said. None of the offensive linemen do, the senior captain said.

“This is definitely the best scout team defensive line we’ve ever had here,” Blaszczyk said. “They come out every day with all this energy. They get hyped and they really embrace their role on this team.”

Which is to mimic the Scarlet Knights’ weekly opponent – in this case Syracuse - and to get under the starting offense’s skin too.

Keep reading about how these freshmen aren’t deferring to anyone right here.

Orrin Hatch is taking a break from fighting the BCS to fight health care reform. This bill, he says, will prompt a “holy war” … Oprah’s ending her run on TV. Her 10 most memorable moments … It’s not so easy for your boss to read your e-mail these days …

Brian Kelly better slow down. Urban Meyer’s back to being the favorite to replace Charlie Weis. (NBC Sports)

A municipal court judge told Zach Collaros to grow up. But he also gave the Cincinnati QB three weeks to finish an alcohol diversion class. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

In the meantime, Collaros’ teamates are working on running the ball more. (Rivals.com)

QBs tend to look like Heisman candidates against UConn’s defense. Tomorrow, the Huskies will see an actual candidate… Flip side of that, Notre Dame could make UConn’s run game look like the 1963 Browns’… Weis’ hot seat from UConn’s angle. (Hartford Courant)

Oddly enough, Notre Dame and UConn are similar teams today. (Waterbury Republican-American)

Huskies’ assistant coach Terry Richardson won’t be making the trip to Notre Dame. (Connecticut Post)

Jordan Todman never ceded the starting tailback job to Andre Dixon. Still hasn’t. (Middletown Press)

Four seasons is enough to gauge Steve Kragthorpe’s fit at Louisville… After two weeks off, QB Adam Froman’s working to get back in game shape. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Pitt fans can calm down. Jonathan Baldwin isn’t going anywhere… Antwuan Reed now knows about big-time college football. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Dave Wannstedt wants a university-wide curfew the night before and a set of drums – he’s going to have to bang on dorm windows to get people to a noon kickoff in the all-important title-decider against Cincinnati. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Robert Sands once committed to Pitt; now he’s at West Virginia. (Times West Virginian)

Oh boy. West Virginia beat writer Colin Dunlap sounds awfully sure Pitt’s beating Cincinnati. Lots of good stuff in this chat, including some pseudo marital advice channelling Mike Tomlin. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Rutgers safety Joe Lefeged is into the Carrier Dome. (Star-Ledger)

Jonathan Freeny is too. (Trentonian)

The linebackers are Rutgers’ defensive cogs. (Home News Tribune)

Syracuse and Rutgers are playing for lots more than a win. (Protect R Turf)

Rutgers has called on preparation. And chemistry. (ESPN.com)

The foundation for Rutgers’ defense was set years ago. (Rivals.com)

Syracuse’s seniors may not have won in their time in Orange. They still deserve applause… No, the Orange aren’t expecting any mercy from Greg Schiano. Breaking down the game. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Carlton Mitchell’s back. Hopefully. (Tampa Tribune)

Jim Leavitt’s at USF for the long haul. The really long haul. (Bleacher Report)

The bowl picture’s murky for the whole Big East. (St. Petersburg Times)

It was an incredible play, from either sideline’s vantage point.

South Florida quarterback BJ Daniels wouldn’t go down, contorting his torso, keeping his feet moving and yelling at Antonio Lowery the whole time, “Let me go.”

Lowery, Rutgers’ weakside linebacker, kept yelling back, “No!” He’d shot through the line, he’d gotten his hands on Daniels’ chest and after driving the redshirt freshman back 40 yards, he looked set to drive him all the way into the endzone. Incredible.

Except, apparently, to Damaso Munoz.

“I was wondering what the heck was taking so long. I look up and see Antonio dancing back there with the kid,” Rutgers’ strongside linebacker said. “Someone’s got to teach him to tackle.”

Munoz stamped that with a pronounced head shake, Lowery shot him a head shake back and in those minutes after Rutgers’ 31-0 destruction of South Florida, the only thing Lowery might’ve had to actually learn was how to cut off Munoz’s media lanes.

“It’ll never happen,” Lowery said. “’Maso always has something to say.”

Well, play this much, the material adds up. Lowery’s started every game for Rutgers, going from surprise first-teamer to expected playmaker. His 48 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss are both third on the team, his two forced fumbles are tied for best and he has a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown. Something, incidentally, Munoz couldn’t manage off his one interception.

The junior from Miami comes home after every game to watch the DVRed version with roommate and best friend Tim Brown (“He’s always talking too,” Lowery said) and he’s very much the big brother to his ginormous freshman tackle little brother, Antwan.

“I’ve always wanted to do everything he does,” Antwan said.

Here’s a blueprint, Antwan. Ladies and gentlemen, Keep it Brief with Antonio Lowery.

Best part of being a Miami guy in NJ… “the snow.”

Worst part of being a Miami guy in NJ… “the snow.”

My dream job is… “starting linebacker for the Miami Dolphins.”

The next defensive player to get a touchdown will be… “me.”

One thing I don’t do enough of is… “go home to Miami.”

My teammates envy my… “head.”

When Coach Schiano yells… “spit comes out.”

The best part of dealing with the media is… “the jokes.”

If I didn’t play football, I’d… “be at home in Miami.”

Mama always says… “Be respectful.”

The commercial I could star in is… “The Oreo cookie one, with Antwan. Like Peyton and Eli Manning.”

When I finish playing football, I will… “move to Hawaii.”

The best dancer on my team is… “Devon Watkis. And Julian Hayes. Can I say two?”

I’m afraid of… “heights.”

The superhero power I’d most like to have is… “reading girls’ minds.”

The last chick flick I saw was… “The Notebook. It’s a great movie. Really.”

The non-Rutgers Big East player I’d like to have on my team is… “BJ Daniels.”

My advice to Coach Schiano is… “Keep chopping.”

The last Keep it Briefs: Kion Wilson.

A little bizarre-looking trophy. I don’t really know what’s going on there. At least it looks like someone’s playing defense. (How does a defensive player win the Heisman? The guy’s carrying a football.) In any case…

The Big East has two of the 15 finalists and two of the better life stories on the Walter Camp Award “Players to Watch” list, Cincinnati senior wideout Mardy Gilyard (who lived in his car and worked at a pizza place trying to get back into good standing with the university) and Pitt freshman tailback Dion Lewis (who drove his game tapes to all sorts of schools, including Rutgers, and could a single scholarship offer outside Dave Wannstedt’s).

The full list of finalists after the jump.

(more…)

I don’t know how it gets worse for the Orange. Last week the Rutgers fans told me, no, they can’t feel sorry for Syracuse. But maybe now?

Senior linebacker Derrell Smith is done for the season. He’s Syracuse’s leading tackler, he tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee and he’s the third guy to go down this week. Kick returner Mike Jones tore his left hip flexor Saturday at Louisville, long snapper Dalton Phillips suffered a concussion and their seasons are over also.

And that’s on top of the six starters Syracuse already lost for the season – to injury – before this week: TE Nick Provo, DE Jared Kimmel, SS Max Suter, TE Cody Catalina (someone had to replace Provo, right?), DE Arthur Jones and OT Jonathan Meldrum

Imagine if Doug Marrone had even half those guys right now. Or even one. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano takes his team up to Syracuse Saturday and he said of Jones earlier this week, ”That is a huge loss.”

He lumped Jones in with his own corner, and then said those two were playing the best football of any defensive players in the league. With Jones, Schiano said, “There weren’t many people that blocked him efficiently and consistently during the year. Double teams didn’t matter. He is a dominant player. I said it last year, I thought he would be a first-round pick if he came out last year. He is that good of a player.” 

Syracuse’s players in their fourth year haven’t ever beaten Pitt, West Virginia, South Florida or Cincinnati. With a medical chart like that, I don’t know how they don’t add Rutgers to the list Saturday evening.