BigEastSportsBlog.com

Another survivor was pulled from the rubble in Haiti yesterday, two weeks after the Earthquake… That Tim Tebow spot for Focus on the Family that’s going to air during the Super Bowl cost a pretty penny… The good, the bad and the ugly on the Apple tablet…

The QB who committed to Cincinnati last spring is visiting Notre Dame this weekend; his high school coach said it’s not a case of Brian Kelly stealing recruits. (South Bend Tribune)

Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard are impressing scouts at the Senior Bowl. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Two Bearcats are on the Texas vs. Nation all-star game. (News Record)

Is UConn up for a jumpr in ticket sales? Where does Randy Edsall rank among college coaches? The answers and many more in this mailbag. (Hartford Courant)

Ohio’s Division II Player of the Year, who committed to Cincinnati, is visiting Louisville. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Jim Caldwell readies Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne this week. Twenty-five years ago, it was the Louisville defensive backs. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Pitt strength and conditioning coach Buddy Morris could be headed to the Redskins. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Pitt’s top incoming recruit tore the meniscus in his right knee while playing basketball. (Pitt Blather)

You want an inside look at Rutgers’ Junior Day? Hurry up and click on this before the link gets taken down. (Bleed Scarlet)

Devin McCourty could be making a push fo the first round. (Bleacher Report)

A thorough update on Rutgers’ recruiting. (Bleed Scarlet)

That helicopter Greg Schiano uses still impresses. (Press of Atlantic City)

The list of coaches who applied for USF’s top job is pretty impressive – and vast. (Tampa Tribune)

Checking in with the USF assistants Skip Holtz didn’t keep. (Tampa Tribune)

Jim Leavitt’s at the Senior Bowl, job hunting. (St. Petersburg Times)

West Virginia students make knucklehead fans. (The Smoking Musket)

Yet another person thinks Jarrett Brown is the most gifted QB at the Senior Bowl. Over Tim Tebow. (National Football Post)

The newest Senator uses his victory speech to try to get a date for his basketball-playing daughter; she laughs it off… This telethon features some heavy hitters… The end of Wall Street as we know it…

Brian Kelly got the kid to commit to UC last summer. Will he now get him to commit to Notre Dame? (Cincinnati Enquirer)

The Bearcats will have three Senior Bowl participants this year. (GoBearcats.com)

Charlie Strong’s making believers out of high school kids. (The L Yes! Report)

Is Strong the best hire of the off-season? (Dr. Saturday)

If Rutgers fires Fred Hill, the coach with nine Big East wins – in four years – will walk away a very rich man. A fascinating look at his contract and what Rutgers could be on the hook for. (Scarlet Scuttlebutt) 

The Jim Leavitt-Joel Miller story is not going away. Still. (Tampa Tribune)

Meanwhile, USF could be losing a DT commit. (Tampa Tribune)

Is West Virginia a football school or basketball school? (Times West Virginian)

Breaking down all the recruiting in the league thus far. (ESPN.com)

The tsunami apparently taught aid organizations how to cooperate. Here’s a list of ways YOU can help. That is, of course, if you don’t believe Pat Robertson’s correct in saying this is the consequence of Haiti’s “pact with the devil.” Again, prayers to the people and nation of Haiti… Our government’s leaving no stone unturned when it comes to terrorists; we’ve got an eight-year old on the watchlist… The key to the Obamas’ marriage? Sportscenter…

Cincinnati’s new president talks about his new football coach. (News Record)

Cincinnati owes Brian Kelly thank you. (SI.com)

Charlie Strong keeps bringing familiar faces into his staff. This time it’s the new line coach. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

It just might be fun to be a Cardinals fan again. (Card Game)

Two weeks in, Dave Wannstedt’s calling it a smooth off-season. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

A bunch more notes from that media session with Wannstedt, including Pitt’s scholarship numbers. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Checking in with former RU QB Mike Teel, who now has a new coach up in Seattle. (Home News Tribune)

The attorney for the kid who said Jim Leavitt hit him, then that he didn’t and then again that he did will have a news conference today. (Tampa Tribune)

Here’s another witness to the alleged incident saying Jim Leavitt got railroaded. (St. Petersburg Times)

Skip Holtz interviewed. So did former Grambling coach Doug Williams. Tommy Bowden may and Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple might too. This USF job really is hot. (Tampa Tribune)

Holtz may still be the guy in the lead, though. (St. Petersburg Times)

Calm down Cuse fans. Doug Marrone’s not going to Tennessee. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Oh boy. Syracuse is going back to the West Coast Offense. Maybe it won’t be the same one Greg Robinson thought he was putting in. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Any chance any other assistant in the league has an action figure on eBay? (Syracuse Post-Standard)

It’s a WVU prof leading the research on football-related brain injuries. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

Top 10 moments in the Big East’s 2009 season. (ESPN.com)

Crazy night in Big East hoops. Pitt upsets UConn… St. John’s upends Cincinnati…Rutgers’ Greg Echenique is transferring to Creighton…

Our prayers to the people of Haiti… Wyclef Jean’s already started raising relief money… A junky trunk’s apparently better than love handles… I don’t really get it; has Lane Kiffin won anything yet?…

Summarizing the Cincinnati bloodlines on Brian Kelly’s new staff. (The Observer)

Of course, Kelly’s just one of the new breed of suspect role models masquerading as coaches. (The Stanford Daily)

But that’s the past; Cincinnati has its new offensive coordinator. (GoBearcats.com)

More and more recruits are seeing UConn as the big time. (Hartford Courant)

Charlie Strong will open his first spring at Louisville with four QBs. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Tracking Rutgers’ commits. (Bleed Scarlet)

Meanwhile, could Rutgers’ hoops program be in any more disarray? (SNY.tv)

There’s a lot of musts for the new USF coach. Could Skip Holtz be the man to meet them? (Tampa Tribune)

Holtz’s buyout at East Carolina won’t hold him back. (Tampa Tribune)

And Holtz definitely wants the job. (St. Petersburg Times)

But wait. Bucs’ assistant head coach Rich Bisaccia may really be the best choice. (St. Petersburg Times)

Meanwhile, why was Coach P let go in Miami? (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Losing his recruiters hasn’t fazed Bill Stewart. (Times West Virginian)

A redshirt nose guard’s leaving WVU for ODU. (Charleston Daily Mail)

The takeaways from the Big East bowl season. (ESPN.com)

Congratulations to Alabama, but really… if you don’t feel for Colt McCoy, you must be missing a heart… Remember those supposedly chipper job numbers a few weeks ago? They were fake… Happy Birthday Elvis…

Both Cincinnati coordinators are following Brian Kelly to South Bend. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Cincinnati’s athletic department is losing $3.5 million a year. It needs an additional $11 million a year to compete, says a task force. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Former Husky Larry Taylor signed a futures contract with the Jets. (Sox and Dawgs)

Louisville just beat out Alabama and Florida for another mega-recruit, the third Charlie Strong’s brought in from the Sunshine State. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

The Cards’ Justin Burke may be done with football. (Card Game)

Is Pitt’s class filled at 24? Is it the country’s 12th best class or 27th? Are its two best players from New Jersey? (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Rutgers will not get Shamar Graves back. (Protect R Turf)

It’s been a month since those ugly allegations against Jim Leavitt. Is the university investigation ever going to turn up anything? (Tampa Tribune)

Another player in the locker room says the charges against Leavitt are nonsense. (St. Petersburg Times)

Is Doug Marrone pursuing former Pitt coach Walt Harris? And maybe part of Dave Wannstedt’s staff? (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Baby D’s left WVU for ODU. (Virginian Pilot)

Who brings back what next year. (ESPN.com)

Yes, I’m going to see Avatar tonight. But do I want 3D viewing in my living room all the time? … Google’s superphone is out. If anyone buys it, let us know … India isn’t only taking jobs out of America, it’s bringing jobs into America too… NBA Jam is back…

So much for chaos. Cincinnati and TCU blew it for everyone. (Bleacher Report, ESPN.com)

Brian Kelly’s officially hired three assistants at Notre Dame, one from Cincinnati. (Rivals.com)

Three other Bearcats coaches are expected to join his staff too. (ESPN.com)

Guess how the UConn band got to Birmingham. (Hartford Courant)

Charlie Strong’s staff will have a distinctly SEC flavor to it. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

This Pitt hoops team isn’t playing so young anymore. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Rutgers’ plans for a new practice facility and overhauled RAC are only partly about basketball. (SNY.tv)

Bleed Scarlet does an awesome job. If you’re a Rutgers fan, read him. Lots of nuggets and links in this one. (Bleed Scarlet)

Luke Harangody went nuts and South Florida fell by one. (Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times)

Florida’s running backs coach went to Louisville so now Syracuse’s running backs coach is going to Florida. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

The top 10 wins of WVU’s decade. (Times West Virginian)

A very cranky Senate finally passed health care legislation this morning, but that really means little. There’s still a long way to go before any of it becomes law… Menu-writers are manipulating you… Heck yeah, he’s Father of the Year… Grabbing good wine for Christmas…

Jeff Quinn’s juggling four official jobs right now. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

South Carolina’s not afraid of UConn’s return men. (The State)

Louisville’s d-line just got stronger. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

The ACC-Big East matchup in Charlotte will keep on keeping. (News and Observer)

Dave Wannstedt doesn’t have the easiest of sells right now. Just look at Oregon State… Race around Loews Motor Speedway at 170 mph and Wannstedt says, “I used to think pressure was making a decision to go for it on fourth and one.”… Meineke organizers owe Max Gruder’s family a thank you note. They’re up to 60 tickets. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Backyard Brawl, circa 2007, was a sports moment of the decade… Butch Davis, Wannstedt andPitt line coach Tony Wise spent 15 years stomping the same sideline, next to each other…  (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Transcribing and debunking an awfully fact-missing radio exchange between Tony Kornheiser and John Feinstein on Rutgers. (Bleed Scarlet)

Jason Pierre-Paul may go pro. Or not. He has a decision to make. (Tampa Tribune)

Who needs Mark Cuban? It’s a laptop in every locker for USF students… The Bulls might be done recruiting. (St. Petersburg Times)

Greg Robinson’s Syracuse offensive coordinator is interviewing for to be Brian Kelly’s o-line coach at Notre Dame. (Pioneer Press)

Maybe it’s time for the Big East to do the poaching and grow to 12… Two of Hoftstra’s orphans are going to Syracuse. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

West Virginia’s short two defensive starters for the Gator Bowl. Lineman Scooter Berry and safety Nate Sowers couldn’t make their grades. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The best and worst moments of West Virginia and Pitt’s collective decade. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Jarrett Brown’s playing in the East-West Shrine Game. (MSNsportsNET.com)

So much for that promise to return bonuses… the length of your fingers, stocky legs, a lousy sense of smell – they’re all hints to your future health… Paula Abdul was one thing; now Simon Cowell says he’s leaving Idol… Yeah, he should have him drug tested, especially since he’s resisting…

The Bearcats are back to business. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

If only their old coach would leave them alone. Now Brian Kelly’s saying he would’ve stayed and coached if Cincy was in the title game. (ESPN.com)

Steve Spurrier’s about to see UConn and he wishes… there was a playoff. (Hartford Courant)

Spread offense mastermind Mike Sanford is Louisville’s new offensive coordinator. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Six years and a broken neck later, Adam Gunn’s ready to finally move on… Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti is about to face a bunch of kids he recruited. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Dan Mason’s sophomore season begins Saturday at the Meineke Bowl. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Anthony Davis is foregoing his senior year at Rutgers for the NFL. (Star-Ledger, Home News Tribune)

He’s a good kid too. (SNY.tv)

Jim Leavitt’s pumped about those JUCO signees… Meanwhile, USF’s hoops team has already exceeded last year’s win total. (Tampa Tribune)

Bill Stewart says his Mountaineers are the Gator Bowl underdog. (Times West Virginian)

Noel Devine and Jock Sanders are West Virginia’s co-offensive MVPs. (Charleston Gazette)

The 19 best movies of 2009; I’ve only seen two so far… No one writes healdines like the New York Post… debate’s closed on health care… Please reunite this father and son…

Cincinnati wouldn’t give Jeff Quinn a head job? Fine, Buffalo will. (GoBearcats.com)

Tim Tebow’s expecting a fired-up Cincinnati team. (Gainesville Sun)

UConn superlatives. (Hartford Courant)

Sure Tony Pike torched it, but Pitt’s secondary is okay. Really. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Get used to this: We’re going to be reading about Dion Lewis for a long time. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

A full recap of Rutgers’ fourth straight bowl win. (Star-Ledger, Scarlet Scuttlebutt)

The alleged victim said Jim Leavitt never hit him. The alleged victim’s father says his son was never hit, kids in the locker room said there was no hitting and now local coaches are jumping up to defend Leavitt. Because other schools are already trying to use the as-yet-unsubstantiated allegations against South Florida. (St. Petersburg Times)

Greg Paulus is eyeing the NFL. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

West Virginia will miss Doc Holliday. (Times West Virginian)

Not that Bill Stewart is pulling his hair out over it. (Charleston Gazette)

Prayers to former Big East player Chris Henry… One day till Avatar’s premiere… Heard this this morning on the radio and am still disturbed: how does someone live in a house with a dead person and not realize she’s dead… Vermont’s deciding how much a dog’s love is worth…

Butch Jones is the new head coach… He’ll face high expectations… His priority is making a family.(Cincinnati Enquirer)

He won’t, however, coach in the Sugar Bowl. (ESPN.com)

The suspect in Jasper Howard’s stabbing pleads not guilty. (The Day)

A smorgasboard of UConn fan questions. (Hartford Courant)

Former Louisville QB Matt Simms is headed to Tennessee… Charlie Strong meanwhile has four new recruits committed to Louisville. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Now it’s Pitt lobbying to be the Big Ten’s 12th… Dion Lewis is not impressed with himself. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Pitt won’t see Carolina defensive end Donte Moss down in Charlotte. He’s been suspended. (nbcsports.com)

Greg Schiano’s going to bowls and shaping young men too… Dom Natale reflects on his rollercoaster career… Rutgers AD Tim Pernetti says his school’s a proud member of the Big East. (Star-Ledger)

Rutgers’ O-line wants redemption…Tim Brown’s improving. (Home News Tribune)

Now Joel Miller himself is saying Jim Leavitt never hit him. (Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times)

Syracuse AD Daryl Gross isn’t commenting on the Big Ten’s potential overtures. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Jimbo Fisher has a soft spot for West Virginia. (St. Petersburg Times)

West Virginia associate head coach Doc Holliday is likely off to Marshall. (Times West Virginian)