The thirty-eigth edition of Wallpaper Wednesday.

This is the first of what I hope is many Samardo Wallpapers. As always click on the image to view full resolution at my Flickr archive.

Diakite Division
Yep, you guessed it. These are the teams who might have a little talent, but are probably going to be looking for a way to go French professional before the season concludes.

South Florida (12-19, 3-15 in 2007-2008): Dominique Jones may be the most underrated player in the entire Big East, completely missing out on the 11-man, preseason all-Big East roster despite finishing his freshman campaign as the league’s #7 scorer (17.1ppg) and ranking in the Top 15 for steals (1.52spg) and free throw shooting (75.9%). Jesus Verdejo (10.7ppg) and Chris Howard (8.4ppg, 4.8apg) will provide immediate help in the backcourt while Georgia transfer Mike Mercer will give head coach Stan Heath another guard option this December. But the question for the Bulls is who will go to battle with the big boys of the Big East after Kentrell Gransberry took his 16 points and 10.8 rebounds with him to France? Senior F Mobolaji Ajayi had a nice debut Monday night, pulling down 11 boards against SMU, but the Bulls will need JUCO C Alex Rivas Sanchez and freshman C Gus Gilchrist (eligible in December after his hardship waiver was granted earlier this month) to acclimate quickly if USF wants to improve on their paltry three Big East wins.

DePaul (11-19, 6-12): The Blue Demons will head into the season short on seasoned bodies, returning just five players and looking to a pair of sophomores to lead them in the front court. Dar Tucker looks poised to burst onto the Big East scene, entering the starting roster full-time after averaging 13.6 points and 4.8 rebounds despite starting just eight games in 2007-2008. Mac Koshwal joins his Big East All-Rookie teammate at the center spot, and a double-double is easy to picture from the 6’10” post man after a 10.7-point, 8.4-rebound freshman season. Will Walker and Jabari Currie can both work from either guard spot and figure to do it a lot with only a pair of freshmen to offer in reserve (Jeremiah Kelly, a teammate of Tyreke Evans’ at American Christian, saw 25 minutes in his DePaul debut). DePaul must find someone to man the 4 spot in a league stacked with talented power forwards (Sam Young, Earl Clark, Dante Cunningham, Luke Harangody).

St. John’s (11-19, 5-13): Big wing Anthony Mason, Jr. leads a roster heavy on super sophs into Big East play in 2008-2009. The son of Knicks legend Anthony Mason, the 6’7” senior has been a lone bright spot for the past three seasons on a team that always seems to be working in young guys to the starting rotation. His 14.0ppg were tops on the team in 07-08 and his 4.4rpg were good for third behind then-freshmen D.J. Kennedy (5.8) and Justin Burrell (5.9). It is that duo, along with fellow sophomore Malik Boothe, that gives the Storm hope for a move up the Big East ranks and maybe even a few games above .500 for the first time since 2002-2003. Burrell was a solid contributor in his debut season, averaging 10.8ppg and a team-best 5.9rpb as a Big East All-Rookie selection. Kennedy and Boothe have come out on fire to start this season, averaging 22.5 and 10.0 points per game, respectively, while Boothe has added 7.0apg taking over for the departed Eugene Lawrence. The Storm must keep up their quick start on offense, where they have averaged 79.5ppg after putting up a Big East-worst 59.0 per game in 2007-2008.

Seton Hall (17-15, 7-11): Despite entering just his third season in New Jersey, head coach Bobby Gonzalez may need to see vast improvement in his team if he hopes to continue his tenure with Seton Hall. The Pirates return a solid starting rotation, with guards Eugene Harvey (13.3ppg, 4.9apg, 1.9spg) and Jeremy Hazell (12.8ppg, 1.4spg) leading an experienced rotation in the first wave. John Garcia looks to overcome injury issues from the past two seasons to hold on to his job for one more year. The center returns his 6.9ppg and 7.0rpg (8th among returning Big East players), but will get a strong push from sophomore Mike Davis if his knees act up. The wild card appears to be F Robert Mitchell, a former Duquesne Duke that many have tabbed as America’s top transfer and Gonzalez has already challenged to replace Brian Laing’s 18.6ppg (“When Brian Laing left he took 19 points with him. If (Mitchell) doesn’t get all 19 of them back, I think he will get 16 of them back. He’s a terrific player. There’s a very good chance he’ll be our leading scorer.”). Senior G Paul Gause returns from a season-ending knee injury suffered in the middle of last year to provide leadership on defense (2.8spg in 07-08). The Pirates went just 2-9 after Gause’s injury.

Check back tomorrow as we look at the Josh Tinch Tier.

The Bearcats come to Papa John’s off a thrilling overtime victory in Morgantown, where they took down West Virginia to claim possession of their own conference championship destiny. Despite losing the past five meetings for the Keg of Nails, Cincinnati appears ready and willing to reclaim the big bucket from the Cardinals and return it to the Queen City for just the second time in the past 11 seasons. Can head coach Brian Kelly and his revolving door of quarterbacks lead the Bearcats past Louisville? Will the Cards refind their Big East mojo at home? We get to know Cincinnati Behind Enemy Lines.

Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2, 3-1 Big East)
Head Coach: Brian Kelly (18-5 at UC, 37-21 overall)
2007 Record: 10-3, 4-3 Big East Conference (W, 2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl)
Returning Stat Leaders: QB Dustin Grutza (432 passing yards, 4TD), RB Jacob Ramsey (362 rushing yards, 3TD), WR WR Dominick Goodman (869 receiving yards, 8TD), WR Marcus Barnett (862 receiving yards, 13TD), LB Corey Smith (80 tackles), DT Terrill Byrd (8 sacks), DB DeAngelo Smith (8 INT)
Other Key Returnees: G Trevor Canfield, WR Marshwan Gilyard, OT Jeff Linkenbach, LB Ryan Manalac, CB Mike Mickens, DE Lamonte Nelms, LB Andre Revels
Key Losses: RB Butler Benton, OT Digger Bujnoch, DE Anthony Hoke, QB Ben Mauk, RB Greg Moore, S Haruki Nakamura, S Anthony Williams

What They’re Saying
For just about any other team, Cincinnati’s trials and tribulations under center would have long ago wrecked a Big East title bid, much less hopes for a winning season. Last year’s leading signal caller, Ben Mauk, lost his ongoing battle with the NCAA for a 6th season and took his school-record 31 touchdowns with him before the season ever began. Understudy Dustin Grutza played solid in two season-opening games before breaking his leg against Oklahoma. Tony Pike started the next two before a broken arm claimed him for three straight. And with Chazz Anderson filling in during that time, the Bearcats have seen three different QB’s start and earn victories in just 9 games this season.

Cincinnati, it appears, isn’t just any Big East team.

“I credit Brian Kelly’s system and coaching for this,” says Chuck Saffell, better known in Cincinnati circles as admin/analyst subflea on NCAAbbs’ Bearcat Banter and BearcatLair.com. “He makes sure that the packages he brings into games are set up for the QB he is using. With Pike he will try and stretch the field more, while with Grutza he will role him out, and with Anderson he tries to nickle and dime it with short passes to build confidence. Kelly has always been a great teacher of quarterbacks. His system definitely makes it easy on them.”

And while all the Cincinnati QB’s round into full health, it appears that Pike is the man that has taken control of the starting job. The senior has been vital in leading the Bearcats to the top of the conference, calling consecutive wins against South Florida and West Virginia while tossing a team-high 10 touchdowns on the season. His 2 yard strike to TE Kazim Alli was the overtime winner against West Virginia last Saturday.

“Pike has the strongest arm on the team and has been very accurate,” says Saffell. “He is also deceptively good with his feet. Despite being 6-6 and running like a giraffe, he can escape pressure pretty well. The race between Grutza and Pike was extremely close in camp. Grutza was ultimately chosen because he had the game experience as a starter his freshman and sophomore years.”

Regardless of who is throwing passes downfield, success isn’t terribly hard to find when the Big East’s top receiving corps is waiting on the other end to make plays. Dominick Goodman and Mardy Gilyard headline the unit, combining for 1,353 yards receiving and a dozen scores on the year. Both rank in the conference’s Top 3 for receptions per game and receiving yards per game, trailing only Rutgers’ Kenny Britt in each category.

Says Saffell, “Goodman is an excellent possession receiver with outstanding hands. He rarely drops the ball. While he isn’t going to burn anyone with his speed, he will make tough catches look simple. Pike also helps him out by squeezing the ball into places that only Goodman can get to it.”

Gilyard is also a real threat on special teams, twice earning the Big East Special Teams Player of the Week honor. The senior ranks fifth nationally in kick returns, averaging nearly 31 yards per attempt and taking two kickoffs the distance this season. His 100-yard return against West Virginia on the opening kickoff gave Cincinnati a quick 7-0 lead and helped the Bearcats build a 20-7 advantage in the game.

“Gilyard is more of a speed receiver. He seems to be able to find the seams and is a threat to take it to the house whenever he touches it. This is where he is so good on returns. He uses his blockers well and once he hits a hole he is hard to stop. Tackling him in space is very difficult.”

In the backfield, Cincinnati has been rather pedestrian toting the ball on the ground. At just 119.9 yards per game rushing, the Bearcats rank 7th in the Big East (ahead of only Rutgers) and 88th nationally. Their 11 rushing touchdowns are also near the bottom, ranking 82nd in the country.

“Cincinnati runs the ball to keep the defense honest,” says Saffell. “This was one of the problems against UConn (a 40-16 loss), as we only ran it 7 times. Both backs are a god mix of power and speed. Jacob Ramsey is a little faster, while John Goebel is a little more of a power back. Ramsey definitely gets more carries. Goebel has been very successful catching the ball out of the backfield.”

On the other side of the football, Cincinnati returns several key components and plenty of experience to one of the top defenses from 2007. The team starts 10 seniors and a junior on the defensive side, giving UC a Top 40 D by any measure and a stout run unit in particular. After holding West Virginia to just 98 rushing yards – the first team to keep the Mountaineers under 100 since Virginia Tech in 2001 – Cincinnati moved into the Top 25 nationally in run defense (111.1 yards/game). Similar to Pittsburgh, the Bearcats get after the ball and will take chances to make big plays. Their front four has been particularly effective, racking up 21 sacks on the season to rank just behind the Panthers for the Big East lead and 34th overall in I-A.

TE turned DE Connor Barwin has been an integral part of that attack, putting up a Big East-best 7 sacks on the season while totaling 38 tackles and seven passes broken up (team 2nd) on the year. On the other side, DE Lamonte Nelms has added 4.5 sacks to go with his 38 tackles.

“Connor is, simply put, a football player,” says Saffell. “He has an excellent combination of strength and speed for the position. He did play some DE in high school so the basic skills were there. He just needed to fine tune his technique this season. He is definitely best when rushing around the end because of his speed.”

In the secondary, DB Mike Mickens leads a talented unit that led the NCAA with 26 interceptions in 2007 and is as aggressive as ever in picking off would-be completions. The senior has been once again among the conference’s best defensive backs, picking off three passes (T-2, Big East) while racking up a team-high 60 tackles. He is joined in the secondary by fellow CB DeAngelo Smith, who in 2007 tied for the national lead with 8 interceptions. Along with safeties Cedric Tolbert (15 tackles, 1 INT) and Brad Jones (9 tackles, 2 INT), the Bearcat secondary effectively shortens the field for opposing quarterbacks.

“The corners do go after a lot of balls,” says Saffell, “but they rarely take unnecessary risks. They are known to take a pass interference penalty for 15 yards rather than give up a big pass play.”

“They don’t give up the big pass very often. The problem is that since they play a lot of zone and the linebackers are not spectacular in coverage, the underneath pass or a swing to the back is usually there.”

And should the Cards manage yards on their side or hold Cincinnati from getting deep into their territory, the Bearcats’ special teams (led by the aforementioned Gilyard) can be quick to put a game-changing play on you. In P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati has the likely Ray Guy Award winner, given each season to the nation’s top punter. The senior has been automatic and deadly at booming the ball deep and pinning opponents in their own end zone, ranking 6th nationally with a 45.5 average this season while putting 15 of his 46 attempts inside the opponent’s 20. Along with K Jake Rodgers, UC will have a pair of dangerous legs in tow Friday night.

Says Saffell, “Special teams are where we are very strong. Punter Kevin Huber is definitely a weapon for us. He has a huge leg but also has the ability to pin it inside the 10 on a consistent basis. He is the front runner for the Ray Guy award and was runner up last year.”

“K Jake Rogers has found his game after being benched early in the year after two missed extra points. He has a huge leg and actually is more accurate the further away he is. His first missed kick since coming back was a FG on Saturday against WVU.”

More on the Bearcats
* GoBearcats.com puts together a nice preview of Friday’s game.

* Given that DB’s Mickens and Smith are so dangerous as pick-off men, it might appear odd that the pair would rank among Cincinnati’s Top 5 in tackles. A quick explanation from subflea: “Due to the zone defense, our corners are able to come up in run support pretty quickly. Most of (Mickens’) tackles are from that. Byrd and Hoppel do an outstanding job of clogging up the middle and force teams to stretch the run to the outside. As a result, the safeties and corners have time to make those plays. When he is in one on one coverage, he is very difficult to beat, as is DeAngelo Smith on the other side of the field.”

* Mardy Gilyard’s emergence in his final season at Cincinnati has been nothing short of extraordinary and worthy of the praise from media folks, fans, and analysts alike. But one story you may not have heard about was this from Saffell: “Last year he started out strong but his production dropped off and he had a few drops. Turns out he had vision problems and has been quoted as saying there were times he had to ask other players what they were running because he couldn’t see the signals. During the off season he had Lasik surgery and it is very apparent he is seeing the ball better.”

* Quotes from Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly
(on Tony Pike) “I wasn’t really sure until he played. There were some questions marks as to how he would handle himself mentally. But he did a great job. So now I think we have a mature quarterback. Somebody now who has been through the injury cycle and can go out and play regardless of the conditions.”

(On Mardy Gilyard) “We thought he was capable this year of elevating his status within our offense and that was a matter of consistency. We also thought that he had the ability to be recognized within the Big East as a Top 5 receiver. He’s done those things. What we knew about Mardy is he’s a young man who has overcome a lot. Not being on scholarship, having his scholarship taken away, all that stuff. What we knew was he is a genuine kid. He has an infectious personality and loves being around kids.”

(on the team’s 2nd half offensive woes) “We need to score more points in the second half. We played four very good defenses. When you look at national rankings, Rutgers, Connecticut, South Florida, and West Virginia are really good defenses. Part of it is we’re still growing at the quarterback position. But there’s no question we’ve got to score more points.”

(on dealing with the QB shuffle) “I think it takes consistency from what we talk about everyday about ‘Next Man In’ philosophy. It takes not panicking and making sure that you understand we trust the next guy in.”

The thirty-seventh edition of Wallpaper Wednesday.

Wallpaper removed at request of photographer…get permission before, not after kids :) Go Cards.

In lieu of any real thoughts on the ins and outs of an embarrassing 41-7 loss to Pittsburgh, please allow me to borrow a few phrases from President-elect Barack Obama as I try to sum up Louisville football in November, 2008. Change? Yes we can!

And tonight, I think about all that we’ve seen throughout this quarter century in Cardinal football — the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that Louisville football creed: Yes we can.

At a time when Old Cardinal Stadium was silent and hopes dismissed, we lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the BCS. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the 2002 GMAC Bowl and depression as player cell phones rang on the sidelines, we saw a program conquer fear itself with a new coach, new players, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our secondary and Big Ben Roethlisberger threatened the record books in Mobile, Alabama, we were there to witness a coach rise to greatness and a new football dynasty was born. Yes we can.

We were there for the freezing bowls in Memphis, the near misses in Miami (2004) and New Jersey (2006), a near breakthrough in Jacksonville (2005), and a head coach from Montana who said, “We gave them what they wanted.” Yes we can.

A team moved to the Big East, finished in the Top 10 TWICE, and won an Orange Bowl.

And this year, in this season, we touch our fingers to a keyboard, band together, and cast our vote, because after 97 years in Cardinal football history, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, we know Tom Jurich can make a change.

Yes we can.

Can the Cards slow down a runner at least 2.3 times as good as Brinkley in LeSean McCoy? Can one of two still-underachieving coaches actually pull a win out of this meeting? Does anyone on Cardinal Empire care? We find some answers in an uninspired, unfocused edition of Behind Enemy Lines.

Pittsburgh Panthers (6-2, 2-1 Big East)
Head Coach: Dave Wannstedt (22-21 career at Pitt, 22-21 overall)
2007 Record: 5-7, 3-4 Big East Conference
Returning Stat Leaders: RB LeSean McCoy (1,328 yards, 14 TD), QB Pat Bostick (1,500 yards, 8TD), WR Oderick Turner (496 yards, 5 TD), LB Scott McKillop (151 tackles), DT John Malecki (4 sacks), DE Greg Romeus (4 sacks, 11.5 TFL). CB Aaron Berry (2 INT)
Other Key Returnees: DT Rashaad Duncan, LB Adam Gunn, WR Derek Kinder, K Conor Lee, LB Shane Murray, WR T.J. Porter, QB Kevan Smith, RB LaRod Stephens-Howling, QB Bill Stull, S Eric Thatcher
Key Losses: DE Joe Clermond, CB Kennard Cox, OT Mike McGlynn, OT Jeff Otah, S Mike Phillips, TE Darrell Strong

What They’re Saying
This week it’s more like what we’re saying. Coming off such a great preview last week against Syracuse, Cardinal Empire put together a really great opening paragraph for this week’s preview and made five really solid email requests to various Pittsburgh print journalists, bloggers, and radio personalities. Honestly, after such a hot start, we just relaxed. And in this blog game, you just can’t do that. It’s probably kind of good for our staff. We got a wake-up call.

In all seriousness, the Pitt print media is apparently run by old men who are scared of technology and computers. Not one person from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, or various Panther blogs returned my emails seeking some interesting quotes and notes on the Panthers. No word whether they enabled their cookies or checked their TCP/IP settings.

In the absence of our usual format, the next best thing is some good old-fashioned research. We turn back the clock to v1.0 with The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly.

The Good
*For the Panthers, the best news perhaps is that junior QB Bill Stull is healthy and ready to return to the starting line-up. While sophomore Pat Bostick was a good game manager in last week’s OT win at Notre Dame (read: terrible stats in a win), Stull is the more advanced signal-caller of the pair and the architect of Pitt’s 26-21 win over South Florida earlier in the season. On the season, Stull has thrown for better than 1,500 yards and 4 touchdowns.

* Under normal circumstances, the best story is always RB LeSean McCoy. The Doak Walker Award candidate is enjoying a fantastic sophomore campaign, rolling up 1,004 yards and 15 TD on the season to rank in the Top 10 nationally in both categories. As noted by Patriot-News columnist Dale Grdnic, no one has run for more yards in the past 5 games than McCoy.

* Not to be overlooked, Pitt has a pretty darn good reserve in LaRod Stephens-Howling. The senior is the perfect change-of-pace back to McCoy, using his smaller frame to give the Panthers an extra burst of speed and dangerous edge runner in the backfield. In limited action in 2008, Stephens-Howling has rolled up 270 yards on the ground and 5 TD, while adding another 97 yards receiving.

“They have the two-headed monster at tailback,” says Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe. “We’re going to have to do a much better job this week because we’re going to see the same type of attack employed against us, a team that’s going to line up and try to ram it down our throat.”

* Defensively, the Panthers may not be the Steel curtain in Pittsburgh but they will get after you on the front four. Led by DE’s Greg Romeus and Jaball Sheard (4.5 sacks each) and LB Scott McKillop (4 sacks), Pitt has racked up an impressive 22 sacks to pace the Big East and rank 18th nationally. The Panthers will blitz their linebackers, as evidenced by McKillop’s 4 sacks (most of any LB in the Big East) and the fact that 6.5 of Pitt’s 22 sacks have come from the unit. By comparison, only two of Louisville’s 14 sacks have come from their LB’s.

* Speaking of McKillop, a good look at a pro player and top-notch linebacker is available when #40 steps on the field Saturday. The senior is among the nation’s best at sniffing out a football, leading the league with 82 tackles and ranking 10th nationally after totaling an NCAA-best 151 tackles last year. McKillop was recently named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive player.

The Bad & The Ugly
* When the running game occasionally stalls, Pitt’s offense is usually going with it. The Panthers have dominated on the ground all season, obviously, ranking 48th nationally with nearly 165 yards per game. But the bulk of that output has come in Pittsburgh’s 6 wins, where the team averages a gaudy 175 yards/game. In their two losses, McCoy and company could only muster 133 yards/game. Stull and Bostick have managed to put up yardage, averaging 306 yards in the air during those two losses, but only managed a lone TD toss to two interceptions in games coming from behind.

The real problem seems to be a lack of a go-to receiver for Coach Wannstedt. Similar to South Florida, the Panthers have five players with better than 225 yards receiving on the season. But none has eclipsed the 300-yard mark, with freshman Jonathan Baldwin leading at 280 yards and three scores. Pitt’s 5 total receiving TD’s rank 111th of 119 I-A teams.

* Things aren’t much better on the other side of the passing game for Pitt, where an inexperienced unit continues to search for complementary pieces for junior Aaron Berry. The Panther secondary has been torched often, even if not borne out in total yardage. While managing just 5 interceptions on the season (100th nationally), Pittsburgh has allowed 15 passing touchdowns (88th) including a season-high six by Rutgers’ Mike Teel in their 54-34 loss two weeks ago.

* If there’s one quick way to shut down the Pitt offense, it’s by just taking the ball away from them. The Panthers are one of the worst teams in the country at hanging on to the ball, committing more than two turnovers per contest. That leaves them among the bottom 10 in the country at turnover margin, where Pitt is averaging a -1.13 in the plus/minus column. Both the running backs and quarterbacks are equal opportunity givers, with Pittsburgh putting 8 footballs on the ground while tossing another 9 to opposing defensive backs.

Extra Credit
A few more links to get you ready for Saturday’s early kickoff.
UofL Stands in Way of Wannstedt’s Bowl
Pitt-Louisville Preview from CBSSportsline
More from Pitt Blather

The thirty-sixth edition of Wallpaper Wednesday.

This is the T-shirt design (colorized) for the Shawn Bowen Challenge. I originally hoped that we could promote the Scramble to fill up the last spots but all the teams have been filled. That being said, there is still a long road ahead for Shawn and his family and they are still accepting other forms of donation. Please feel free to use this wallpaper as your desktop, and when your coworkers or friends ask who is on the wallpaper, point them to Shawn’s Website (conveniently printed on the wallpaper). Thanks for all the support.

Syracuse QB Cameron Dantley threw for a pair of touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner to FB Tony Fiammetta with 5:16 remaining. Victor Anderson ran for 113 yards and a score while Hunter Cantwell added a pair of touchdown passes before his interception sealed the Orange win with 27 seconds to go.

“Obviously we didn’t make plays and that is on me as head coach,” said Steve Kragthorpe on the loss. “We had a great start, and then we sputtered. We have to make plays and that we didn’t is on me. We wanted to start fast and we did, but we didn’t finish.”

Full Recap with Notes & Quotes

Incoherent Thoughts
* Another season, another loss to the worst BCS conference football program in America. What statistic could better sum up the frustration of losing to Syracuse more than this? In all likelihood, Steve Kragthorpe and the Cards will likely account for 2/3 of all Big East wins that Greg Robinson accumulates as head coach of the Orange. Read that out loud… two-thirds, 66.7%, sixty-six point seven percent.

It’s just unfathomable that a team could show up so motivated and ready for a supposed top dog like South Florida (although that seems to be growing in question after the Bulls lost their third Big East game Thursday), then appear to go through the motions against a team they should have named their score on. At 5-3 overall, a postseason bowl berth is still a reasonable goal and well within reach. But after watching that 60 minutes of Louisville football, it’s hard to be real excited for a holiday trip to Birmingham, Toronto, or parts more unknown on the bowl map.

* It could probably fall easily and neatly under the “not showing up” commentary, but did anyone else notice the really poor play on both lines Saturday against Syracuse? In addition to allowing a season-high 207 yards on the ground (50 clear of the nearest competitor), Louisville failed to get any kind of pass rush on a Cuse QB who isn’t exactly known for great accuracy to begin with. Any kind of activity in the Orange backfield should and would have had a tangible impact on the offense Syracuse was able to put up, but most of the time Dantley had all day to find a receiver and Brinkley was 2 yards to the plus side before he met a D-lineman.

On the other end, Cantwell took more than his share of big hits and a pair of sacks for an offensive line that seemed equally disinterested in winning the battle at the line of scrimmage. Victor Anderson may have run for another 100-yard evening, but little of that had to do with great blocking by his big men up front.

* At least one poster has already made reference to a return of the John L. Smith era. Well, he certainly has that right on at least one account. The Cards ran up 81 yards in penalties Saturday, many of the personal foul and holding kind. When the Cards weren’t drag Orange players down by their collars or delivering late hits, they were answering their butt whoopings at the line by grabbing Orange jerseys and holding on for dear life. Too many of those plays negated otherwise big gainers for the Cardinal offense.

* Some damning quotes from the locker room…
DT Earl Heyman: “We can’t take a play off against any team, and I think we relaxed a bit after the first three and out.”
QB Hunter Cantwell: “We came out and started well, but then we let it out of the bag.”
Steve Kragthorpe: “We wanted to start fast and we did, but we didn’t finish.”

Awesome.

* That’s all I have on this steaming pile. More in-depth analysis would require greater effort on my part than I watched all night on ESPNU. See everyone next Saturday in the basketball game chat.

Syracuse Orange (1-6, 0-3 Big East)
Head Coach: Greg Robinson (8-34 career at SU, 8-34 overall)
2007 Record: 2-10, 1-6 Big East Conference
Returning Stat Leaders: RB Curtis Brinkley (371 rushing yards, 2 TD, 149 receiving yards), QB Andrew Robinson (2,192 yards, 13 TD – BENCHED), LB Jake Flaherty (95 tackles), S A.J. Brown (2 INT), DT Arthur Jones (17.5 TFL, 1 sack)
Other Key Returnees: QB Cameron Dantley, OT Corey Chavers, OG Ryan Durand, CB Mike Holmes, C Jim McKenzie, LB Jerrell Smith, LB Mike Mele
Key Losses: S Joe Fields, LB Jameel McClain, WR Taj Smith

What They’re Saying
While the Louisville Cardinals enjoy a revival of their conference title hopes and football season, it would appear that the Syracuse Orange are all but ready to pack in another forgettable fall in central New York. At a dismal 1-6 this year (0-6 vs. I-A opponents) and 8-34 in three-plus seasons under head coach Greg Robinson, the Orange fan base has understandably turned its attention away from the remaining schedule and toward its promising men’s basketball team and – even more immediately - who might be the next man in charge of ‘Cuse football. But before the SU athletic department makes any decisions about how (and not if) Robinson’s tenure will come to close, they must first welcome a resurgent Cards team to the Carrier Dome Saturday night.

And while Louisville harbors newfound optimism in its program and excitement about its emerging talent, it appears hope is just another four-letter word used when talking about Syracuse football. Ranked in the bottom 15 of eleven major NCAA statistical categories, including total offense (110th of 119 I-A teams), total defense (105th), scoring offense (110th), and scoring defense (110th), Syracuse has struggled to regain an identity and the not-so-long-ago success once common in the days of ‘Cuse stars like Donovan McNabb, Marvin Harrison, and Dwight Freeney. It’s one of just many problems exacerbated during the Robinson Era.

“Robinson had the misfortune of entering the Big East at a time other programs were rising,” says Brent Axe, blogger for The Post-Standard as well as radio host of “On the Block” on ESPN Radio 1260 in Syracuse. “Rutgers, UConn, and other programs finally got their act together and took away huge recruiting bases in New Jersey and Connecticut. Syracuse used to own those states. Now they struggle to get the scraps left over from those schools and others like Penn State, Temple (wow I just said Temple), Pitt, etc. I have heard horror stories about how this coaching staff has recruited and the connections they have lost among high school coaches in the Northeast.”

Lost recruiting grounds, in addition to a failed attempt to bring the West Coast offense to the Empire state and the inexplicable struggles to develop a strong defense (Robinson was defensive coordinator on both of Denver’s Super Bowl champion teams), are certainly all symptoms pointing to a change at the top sooner rather than later. But perhaps more damning this season would be the losses of several key Orangemen to a variety of issues. Stand-out WR Mike Williams, CB Nick Chestnut, and DE Brandon Gilbeaux were all projected starters lost to academic issues in the offseason. WR Taj Gibson, a talented playmaker in 2007, opted to turn pro early rather than finish his senior season. And in more recent weeks, LB Mike Stenclik has become an auspicious missing piece with rumors swirling about post-concussion syndrome and the end of his Orange career.

“The loss of Smith and Williams turned the offense upside down,” says Dave Rahme, beat writer for The Post-Standard. “The two combined for 104 receptions and 15 touchdowns last season. With Mitch Browning coming in to run the offense, SU was going to get back to establishing a solid ground game, and Smith and Williams were going to be able to force opposing defenses to play it honest in the secondary and not stack the box. They would also give the Orange a potent one-two deep threat.”

“Their absence, the loss of sophomore Dan Sheeran in camp to a broken leg, and the switch of Da’Mon Merkerson from wideout to cornerback (his natural position) left the team with eight receptions (all by Lavar Lobdell) returning from last season. In short, the group went from the strongest on the team to the weakest in a blink of an eye.”

“Stenclik has tons of upside and it is a shame what he’s going through now,” adds Axe. “I have heard the concussion issues as well, but it would be easier to get the codes to Fort Knox than getting any confirmation on injuries these days.”

In the absence of so much talent, one bright spot for each side of the ball has been RB Curtis Brinkley on offense and DT Arthur Jones on D. Brinkley is the lone feel-good story coming out of the ‘Cuse locker room, overcoming a myriad of injury and personal issues to establish himself as one of the Big East’s best runners in 2008. After managing just 968 yards in his first three years while undergoing two knee operations and missing the final four games of 2007 with a broken leg, Brinkley has been a model of consistency and production for the Orange in 2008. The senior back has already rolled up 733 yards rushing and scored four times while posting a 100-yard afternoon in five of the Orange’s seven games.

“Mitch Browning has a lot to do with it,” says Axe. “He helped develop Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney and had some high powered running games at Minnesota.”

“It is hard to describe his running style,” says Rahme. “He would like you to think it’s similar to Brian Westbrook, the tailback for the Eagles. It fits in that both play bigger than their size and are not afraid to lower the shoulder and get an extra yard or two and are very dangerous if they get into space. Not great pure speed but great balance and ability to cut on a dime (more important in a tailback anyway). He admits that he and Robinson have had a rocky relationship over the years, but he has been a model of leadership and productivity this season and gets his yards despite SU’s lack of a vertical passing game.”

On the other side of the ball, Jones has been a one-man wrecking crew in a scheme that has otherwise failed to produce positive statistics of any kind. After a highly successful sophomore campaign in which he ranked 18th in the country by racking up 17.5 tackles for loss, Jones has shed routine double- and triple-teams from opposing offensive lines to tack on another six in 2008 to go with his 22 tackles and one sack.

“Jones is both quick off the snap and can overpower you. The total package,” sys Axe. “He has made a lot of people look silly this year. This guy could absolutely put his name in the draft this year and get selected. He is drawing a lot more attention this season from opposing offensive lines and still has 6 tackles for a loss.”

Still, neither player’s continued solo achievements have helped the team enjoy much more than moral victories (against Pittsburgh and West Virginia). Former QB Andrew Robinson, who cut Louisville up last season for 423 yards and 4 TD’s, inexplicably developed a hitch in his mechanics during the summer that ultimately gave way to back-up Cameron Dantley taking the starting job. Dantley has fared little better, throwing for just 882 yards and 7 TD, which leaves the signal caller job up for grabs as the season hits the home stretch.

“The coaches like Dantley’s ability to escape the pocket and he has a much stronger arm than Robinson,” says Axe. “That said, Dantley has really struggled the last two games. It is very possible we could see Robinson in this game. Greg Robinson has not committed to the idea Dantley has a firm hold on the job. Even if Dantley starts, Robinson could be on red alert to come in the game.”

Either way, it is unlikely the ‘Cuse quarterbacks will be able to put up big statistics without a game-breaker to throw to down the field. Without Williams and Smith to stretch the defense, the Orange have wilted to 108th in passing offense while putting up just 141.1 yards per game through the air.

“Donte Davis, who missed last season with a broken thumb (sustained trying to catch a pass from Cam Dantley in preseason camp) is probably the go-to guy,” says Donnie Webb, another of The Post-Standard’s talented writers and the paper’s Syracuse football man since 1989. “Lavar Lobdell has an NFL body but lacks consistency. The freshmen - Marcus Sales and Van Chew - have made some plays. And the Orange love to throw the ball on bootlegs to the tight end, Mike Owen, and the fullback, Tony Fiammetta.”

Defensively, Syracuse has looked to its youth to provide a solid foundation for the next couple of years while leading the team early in their careers. Sophomore LB’s Mike Mele (50 tackles) & Derrell Smith (43 tackles) and sophomore CB Mike Holmes (44 tackles) account for three of the top four tackle totals for the Orange while Smith has added 5 tackles for loss on the season.

“Smith has been a lot of fun to watch,” says Axe. “The coaching staff even lined him up at defensive end the last two games to counter the speed presented by West Virginia and South Florida and he responded big. He is going to be a star. He has a true sense of getting to the ball and making plays.”

“Mele has a motor that runs 100 MPH at all times and will only get better. He leads the team in tackles even though he has struggled with some injuries as well which slowed him down a tad.”

All glimmers of hope, no doubt, but not bright enough to save their coach’s job. With a loss Saturday to Louisville, in fact, they may put the final nail in his orange-draped coffin.

More from Our Orange Spies
* You know your program isn’t enjoying acceptable levels of success when your stand-out player wears a single-bar face mask and a soccer cleat. Yet when asked who has been a source of optimism for the Orange, all our spies are quick to tout the play of K Patrick Shadle. The senior has been among the best in the Big East, booting 11 of his 12 field goal attempts through the uprights and sending his lone miss crashing off the post.

“I know he is ‘only’ the kicker, but Patrick Shadle has been money,” says Axe. “Given the amount of times the offense will come up short, it is nice to know you count on something as a SU fan.”

Adds Webb, “Pat Shadle is having a monster season. He’s probably the team MVP at this point. He’s missed one field goal, and that was a 51-yarder against Northwestern that hit the left upright.”

* More in-depth commentary from our guys on the Syracuse D…
Axe: “Say all you want about Greg Robinson, he is supposed to know defense. But his team can’t even get the basic fundamentals down. They are constantly missing tackles and out of position. There is one play that stands out in that department vs. South Florida in their last game. USF was on the 3 yard line and broke the huddle with one wide receiver split right. Syracuse put all 11 guys in the middle of the field and no one even thought to go defend the ONE receiver split out. I mean, the guy was on an island and Syracuse had plenty of time to adjust to it. You should have seen the reaction from Grothe. It was on the level of ‘Are you serious right now with that defense?’ Easiest touchdown pass ever for Matt Grothe. I mean, it is only one example, but how the hell does that happen? And that is just one example of many head scratchers on that defense.”

Webb: “The secondary is woefully inexperienced and they’ve gone through a ga-jillion lineups. The linebackers are slow and don’t make enough plays. Every team double-teams Arthur Jones, so his contributions are minimized. They can’t rush the passer. They’re not a good tackling team. They’re not good at anything, really.”

Rahme: “You build a defense from the front back, and none of the players you mentioned (Mele, Holmes, Smith) plays up front. I like Derrell Smith’s potential as an outside linebacker. Mike Holmes is having a bit of a sophomore slump, but I believe he will be a solid corner. Mike Mele is too small to play inside linebacker in SU’s scheme. He is listed at 6-0, 218, and I believe that is a stretch on both counts. Frankly, I don’t believe SU fans are excited about anything these days. They have been subjected to four seasons of some really bad football. The team lost by an average score of 43-14 at home last season. It lost to Akron at home this season. It was tested severely by I-AA Northeastern in its only victory. There may be fewer than 25,000 fans in the Carrier Dome on Saturday. It is tough to be an SU football fan these days.”

* More from Rahme on the Robinson Era:
“You’d need a book to fill the reasons why Robinson has directed the team to the worst four-year stretch by far (8-34) in its 116-year history. He was hired to be a clone of his good friend Pete Carroll, but Syracuse is not Southern Cal. Unlike Carroll, Robinson arrived with no previous head coaching experience. His first offensive coordinator (Brian Pariani) had never been a coordinator before. Three of his assistant coaches had been graduate assistants who were getting their first shot. Despite these handicaps, Robinson tried to reshape a team that had been built for power running and an element of option football and tried to turn it into a pro-style West Coast attack overnight. Big mistake.

While the team was on a downward bent under Paul Pasqualoni (now DC of the Dolphins), Coach P and longtime assistant George DeLeone (now the OL coach with the Dolphins) had built great relationships with high school coaches throughout the Northeast. Many of those coaches were miffed at the way Pasqualoni was fired (a public news conference announcing his return, followed three weeks later by his dismissal).

The biggest mystery with Robinson has been the team’s defensive struggles. He arrived as a guru with two Super Bowl rings won as DC of the Broncos, and his first defense at SU was much improved. Yet, he inherited five future NFLers from Pasqualoni on that unit and the team still went 1-10. Since then the defense has been horrible, unable to stop either the run or the pass. That, more than the three offensive coordinators Greg has employed in his four seasons, will likely be most responsible for his dismissal.

As for players of the caliber you used as examples, it should be noted that none was highly recruited coming out of high school. McNabb’s only options at quarterback were SU and Nebraska, and the Huskers still had Tommie Frazier. Hard to believe it was only a decade ago that most D-I schools would ask a black quarterback to switch positions. SU was an exception, an advantage it no longer enjoys, thanks in large part to the success of… Donovan McNabb. Dwight Freeney was offered by none of the big players (if memory serves, maybe BC and Wake), and ditto for Marvin Harrison. Identifying diamonds in the rough and developing them into future NFL stars is an inexact science, but it held the key to SU’s success in the past and now is paying dividends at places such as West Virginia, Connecticut and Cincinnati.

SU, once a terror to opposing teams due to its quirky freeze-option offense, is now being burned by teams running the next generation of the attack - the spread no huddle - while employing a conservative pro style scheme with at-best average athletes.”

The thirty-fifth edition of Wallpaper Wednesday.

The most popular wallpapers are usually the ones with the schedules. I am proud to present the 2008-2009 Basketball schedule.

I’m still looking for any requests so if you have any ideas or a specific player you would like to see please let your voice be heard in the forums.

Special props to JBO for his awesome camera work.

Videos after the break.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Post-game Audio
A new feature we are going to try to add to the post game stuff. I finally figured out how to use my new voice recorder and upload the wav files. I believe you will need Windows Media Player or a similar audio listening device to enjoy these. They’re worth the free download, though.
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Louisville G Andre McGee

Notes, Observations, & Musings
A semi-full highlight reel of tonight’s scrimmage should be up soon courtesy of Justin Bowen (aka jerb or JBOCardFan), but here are a few observations from tonight’s game.
* It’s easy to be wowed by his stat line, and there’s little doubt the guy is a future force in the Big East, but it’s almost impossible to describe just how far ahead of the freshman curve Samardo Samuels really is. His variety of moves in the post, the intelligence, and the raw strength are all very good candidates for why teammates have nicknamed “SamSam” a more ominous title of “Animal”. He could learn a thing or two from David Padgett about drawing the fouls instead of dishing them out or how to create offensive opportunities for teammates from the low post, but the youngster is just a man amongst boys, even playing a veteran like Clark.

Coach Pitino said after the game, however, that much of what fans witnessed tonight is “fool’s gold” because the team just simply doesn’t have anyone on the roster who can challenge his natural talents or the ones he has developed far ahead of his years. I’d argue that most Big East teams won’t have anything for Samuels, either, and players like Harangody, Thabeet, and Blair are all in for epic battles when the Cardinals come calling on the conference schedule.

* Not to be outdone, Jared Swopshire was easily the third most impressive Cardinal on the floor behind Samuels and Clark (more in a second). The kid is just smooth running up and down the floor, gliding to the rim, and flicking his pretty jumpshot into the hoop from almost anywhere. Folks who can recall a first-year Francisco Garcia will get a good mental image about what Swop brings to the Cardinal roster… only more refined at this stage. He has little fear taking the ball to the rack, as evidenced by ten free throw attempts after taking hard fouls on several dunk tries.

Scariest of all for opposing teams is that Pitino told the media afterward that he didn’t see a whole lot of minutes being available to Swopshire (or fellow freshman swing-man Kyle Kuric) this season. With Delk showing his arsenal of skills and Terrence Williams on the recovery trail, Swopshire may be the most talented 3rd-string small forward in the country this year.

* Back to Clark… a lot to like and a little to object in his double-double effort this evening. The junior has made serious strides physically, looking much more prepared to bump bodies with the many talented fours in the conference this season. Clark also showed a real tenacity for attacking the rim, leaving behind those awkward double-clutch floaters from last season with quick spins and cuts to the rim and “knock-you-and-the-basket-over” drives right at the glass. When Clark made it his priority to get in the paint and either take the ball to the rack or pull up for a very nice mid-range jumper that he debuted for the crowd, he was nearly unstoppable.

On the other side of the coin, there were times that Clark seemed too content to hang around the perimeter and hoist deep shots. I couldn’t decide if this was part of Pitino’s game plan for E5 or something the coach will be laying in to him about come Monday afternoon. Clark also managed just a 4-for-9 effort from the stripe, something that will no doubt need to improve given how often he and fellow big man Samuels figure to go to the charity stripe this season (Samuels was 10-of-12). Pitino told the media that he wasn’t concerned with Clark’s performance from the stripe, intimating that it was more an issue of playing 39 frenetic minutes rather than his abilities to convert the freebies.

* Speaking of frenetic, all the reports are true and then some. Starting with the break-neck pace set by point guards McGee and Edgar Sosa as well as Preston Knowles, both teams ran, ran, and ran some more to show off the potential of this team in transition this year. The teams combined for 43 fast break points, including an eye-popping 31 from the red squad. A lot of that has to do with how well Samuels ran the floor, winding up the beneficiary on at least five transition plays by my notes. Jennings was no slouch, going coast to coast on a couple of plays himself and getting involved in the fast break game the other way. Put simply, fans will be in awe of how well both big men run with these talented guards this year.

In addition, there must be a fantastic battle going on in practice between McGee and Sosa. Both were very adamant about forcing the issue on their end of the offense, taking aggressive lines to the hoop and getting easy buckets for themselves or their teammates. Just as his teammates did at times, Sosa settled for the jumper on more occasions than his red counterpart, but both guys showed off improved skills at penetrating the opposing D, running the floor, and getting to the rim. Sosa was caught pouting a time or two on a non-call, but overall looked much more mature and ready to push McGee for playing time at the point.

* Off night for Jerry Smith all around. The junior sharp-shooter failed to connect on any of his 10 three-point attempts and was a non-factor for much of the game. I’m not Larry Bird and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but it looked on a couple of his long-range attempts that Smith was getting too much of his shooting hand on the ball. Instead of letting the ball roll off his fingertips, which my middle school coach taught me was the F in “B.E.E.F.”, it almost looked like he had his whole palm on the ball and through most of the release. More disappointing, however, was that Smith managed just a single steal and only grabbed three rebounds from the 87 opportunities both teams had. My favorite aspect of watching Jerry last season was the aggressive attitude he had when guarding his man or getting on the glass. On nights when his jumper isn’t falling, a continued commitment to excellence in the other stat categories is what will endear him to many a Card fan. Here’s hoping (and guessing) this was just a bad night at the office.

* Some final random notes… transfer G Chris Brickley looks like a smart, savvy player who will get some important minutes next season; the Northeastern and Southern New Hampshire transfer is sitting out this season and will be a junior in 2008-2009… Reginald Delk looked quiet, but solid in his official (?) Cardinal debut; the Mississippi State transfer showed a nice release in canning one of 2 three-point attempts and a knack for finding the ball on long rebounds (11 points, 9 rebounds)… Preston Knowles took over the T-Will stat-stuffer duties in the absence of #1; Knowles just missed a triple-double with 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists… Andre McGee will not be recognizable if you haven’t seen pictures or video since last March; best shape of his life after doctors finally diagnosed and addressed a cramping issue

“This is a big win for the program, a big win for the city, and a big win for Coach K,” said QB Hunter Cantwell, who finished with 212 yards and the two TD strikes to Long. “He’s had a lot of opposition, but we’ve always believed in him.”

Long returning to form certainly didn’t hurt, either. The junior wideout finally made good on the sizable promise folks had heard about from spring practices and training center talk, posting his first career 100 yard game as well as his first touchdown reception as a Cardinal.

“It felt like a long time coming with all the time (Hunter & I) put in this summer,” said Long. “It was great to come out here and make big plays for my team.”

Complete AP Recap with Quotes, Notes, & Stats

News, Notes, Quotes, & Observation
*Huge, HUGE win for the program this afternoon. Louisville’s victory over the Bulls maintains the odd home and home victory streaks for both teams, but more importantly all but ends USF’s Big East title hopes. Coupled with losses today by Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, Louisville suddenly finds itself harboring legitimate chances of winning the conference and heading back to a BCS bowl. I’m not sure they are quite prepared to stand up to the challenge of facing one of the Big XII’s best or a Top 10 team like Florida, but I am suddenly very excited to find out.

* Interesting tidbit courtesy of Hunter Cantwell in today’s post-game presser. While discussing Louisville’s multiple successful attempts to draw the USF front four offsides, Cantwell intimated that he was given full reign by offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm to decide which cadence to bring to the line of scrimmage. Based on the six times the Bulls were whistled for the infraction, it sounds like a successful game decision by Brohm and a job well done by Hunter.

* Of the many big afternoons turned in by the defense, a special nod is needed in the direction of LB Jon Dempsey. The junior was very impressive in Louisville’s blitz package, twice delivering punishing hits on South Florida QB Matt Grothe and finally getting to the shifty junior for a sack on the first of those two big stands late in the game. Kragthorpe was equally pleased with the effort up the middle, noting, “We wanted to pick and choose our spots to pressure (Grothe) and put blitzes in that could get to the quarterback. They really did a great job inside. He’s only about 5-10, so we were able to get some footing inside and make him pull the ball down a couple of times and got some sacks with our inside guys. With the inside pressure, he couldn’t spin out and make some plays outside.”

* A few interesting quotables from the press conference:
Eric Wood on the defensive stands late in the game: “That’s the Ron English coming out in them.”
Earl Heyman on the final play by USF that ended in Grothe’s INT: “I hit him, I thought I had him, but he ran out of there. Johnny Patrick got the pick and I was happy.”
Coach Kragthorpe on the holding call on Louisville’s field goal attempt: “No doubt #27 (Tyrone McKenzie) pulled him.”
Krag on this being the best game of his tenure: “From an execution standpoint, we found a way to win. From a statistical point of view, we didn’t roll up 700 yards or a ton of points. But we did an excellent job of making timely plays and getting it done.”
Hunter Cantwell on Long’s second TD: “It was the same play (as the first TD). The corner played outside leverage and Scott didn’t try to force it outside. He just cut in and made a great catch.”
Scott Long talking about the moments following his dropped pass that led to Cantwell’s INT: “Hunter came to me and said, ‘You’re still my guy. I’m gonna come back to you.’ That was big for me and gave me a lot of confidence to come back and make a play to make up for it.”

* I’ve done more than my share of criticizing of P Cory Goettsche, so it seems only fair I point out what a solid afternoon he had kicking the ball. Including some very important boomers when the Cards were pinned deep in their own territory early, Goettsche just killed the ball on most of his six attempts Saturday afternoon. Taking away the wobbly 34-yarder he hit just after his big fake punt and scramble was called back for holding (I’ll give him leeway since his legs were probably confused from the scamper) and the 36-yarder that sailed in to the end zone for a touchback, Goettsche averaged better than 45 yards per attempt against the Bulls. I haven’t checked the box score archives, but I’m willing to bet that’s a personal best day for the junior special teamer. Well done, Cory.

* A lot of credit also needs to start filtering in the direction of the secondary, led by Woodny Turenne and Johnny Patrick. Including the interceptions by the starting cornerback duo, several guys made big plays on an afternoon that USF attempted 40 passes and often sent five wide to force Louisville into nickel coverage. Sergio Spencer made a big hit on a would-be receiver, breaking up a first down catch during a critical 3rd quarter possession with the Cards still clinging to a 14-6 lead. Turenne also made a really pretty move on his interception in the third, sliding underneath his receiver and right into the passing lane for the pick. NFL quality stuff there. The Cards still have a ways to go to become a lock-down unit in the secondary (see: Spencer’s do-si-do act on the wounded duck Grothe tossed up; WR Taurus Johnson ended up pulling it down for a 1st down inside the UofL 10 and the Bulls scored two plays later), but have made considerable strides this season to join their counterparts in the front seven.

* If I haven’t said it yet this season, can I go ahead and say it now? HELLO deep go route!! It’s very interesting that the Cards ran this play exactly two times today and both end up in Scott Long TD catches. I still contend that Cantwell throws a perfect deep pass and Louisville needs to test opposing secondaries more regularly with it. With Louisville’s receiver corps rounding in to full health, there is no reason they shouldn’t send a guy deep at least 4-5 times every single game. If nothing else it gives Cantwell a chance to loosen up his arm and show opposing defenses that Louisville isn’t afraid to stretch the field. Might also give Bolen, Anderson, and Powell more running room up front.

* Finally, can we all agree to follow the team’s lead for the next 24 hours and simply enjoy this win? No matter which side of the ongoing Kragthorpe debate you fall, this is a really, really big win for the program and (even from a skeptic) a first positive sign that the program is putting the wheels back on the track. Let’s soak this one up and get back to deep analysis when we prepare for Syracuse in a few days. Until then, GO CARDS!!

But as the Bulls return just in time for All Hallow’s Eve, they will meet a UofL team that so far this season has appeared more prepared to challenge the scary prospect of Selvie and Cardinal killer Matt Grothe. A rejuvenated Louisville D is ready to turn the hunter into the hunted while Hunter Cantwell and company hope to reveal a few tricks up their sleeve. Will Saturday’s October finale end with treats for the Cards or just another torturous experience at the hands of the Bulls? We don our Jason Voorhees mask and go once again Behind Enemy Lines.

South Florida Bulls (6-1, 1-1 Big East)
Head Coach: Jim Leavitt (79-47 career at USF, 79-47 overall)
2007 Record: 9-4, 4-3 Big East Conference (L, 2007 Sun Bowl)
Returning Stat Leaders: QB Matt Grothe (2,670 pass yards, 872 rush yards, 14 pass TD), RB Mike Ford (645 rush yards, 12 TD), WR Carlton Mitchell (537 receiving yards, 4 TD), LB Tyone McKenzie (121 tackles), DE George Selvie (14.5 sacks), S Nate Allen (4 INT)
Other Key Returnees: DT Aaron Harris, DT Terrell McClain, WR Jessie Hester, WR Taurus Johnson, WR A.J. Love, LB Brouce Mompremier, RB Benjamin Williams, S Carlton Williams, K/P Delbert Alvarado
Key Losses: DT Richard Clebert, DT Woody George, CB Mike Jenkins, LB Ben Moffitt, CB Trae Williams, OT Walter Walker

What They’re Saying
For a good three seasons now, it seem like the South Florida Bulls have been on the verge of a big break-through for the program. As the forgotten member of the 2005 C-USA move, Jim Leavitt’s team shocked many when they undressed fellow C-USA refugee and 9th-ranked Louisville 45-14 on national TV en route to their first-ever bowl appearance. Back-to-back nine-win seasons, including a 6-0 start last year, suggest the Bulls are on the right path to a BCS bowl bid. But for all their major steps forward in the seven short years since joining college football’s highest ranks, it seems South Florida finds just enough stumbling blocks to stay on the edge of the national spotlight.

“They have fared better as the underdog,” observes Brad Meyer, better known to USF fans as board administrator Bulliever on TheBullsPen.com. “They need to play every game like it’s their bowl game - it’s that way in many cases for the opponents now. In fact, it’s the way the Bulls played when they were playing DI teams on the road in the early years.”

Now as the big dog in the Big East, the Bulls look to shake off one slip-up already this season (a 26-21 set-back to Pitt) and claim the conference title that has eluded this very deep, talented team. And their ability to do that – by finishing out the remainder of the conference schedule unbeaten - will most certainly fall on the shoulders of their multi-talented junior quarterback, Matt Grothe.

Entering his third season at the helm for the Bulls, Grothe has already begun an assault on his personal season bests and the USF record books while adding a legitimate passing dimension to his always-dangerous elusiveness and flair for the dramatic. In place of the nerve-wracking up and down play that USF fans had experienced in his first two seasons, Grothe has found a very solid balance of playmaking and smart decision-making in his junior season. The All-Big East candidate has completed 65.4% of his passes for better than 1,500 yards and a dozen touchdowns this season. Most encouraging to USF backers is the lack of the big mistake; after throwing 14 interceptions in each of his first two years, Grothe has just three so far this season.

“Grothe said coming into the season that he had to cut down on his interceptions and that’s exactly what he’s done,” says Tampa Tribune writer Brett McMurphy. “He’s smarter, more poised and also more mature being that this is his third year as a starter.”

“Grothe has become a much smarter and more patient quarterback,” adds Meyer. “In years past it seemed his first option was - like any young quarterback - to run. This year he has had better protection and much more time to pass. He looks through his receivers better and -as to the INT’s - he has thrown those balls away this year instead of up for grabs.”

That doesn’t mean #8 has forgotten about his remarkable escapability and willingness to run over a defender or two when the situation calls for it. Grothe has been more than willing to take off for a first down or a touchdown, leading the team with 316 yards rushing and ranking 3rd with a trio of TD scampers.

But despite Grothe’s apparent death grip on every offensive statistic, that doesn’t mean the Bulls lack playmakers at other positions. Instead of a feature back or go-to receiver, the Bulls have opted to take their many talented, speedy options at wide receiver and running back and go with the hot hand du jour. The result is four backs (Grothe included) with better than 200 yards rushing on the season and four wide receivers who have hauled in at least 200 yards passing. No other BCS conference team can boast that kind of balance.

“Since the start of the season, running backs coach Carl Franks has said there wasn’t going to be a feature back and they would play whoever they thought gave them the best chance to win,” says McMurphy. “That’s why you’ve seen a running back by committee with Mike Ford, Ben Williams, Jamar Taylor, and Mo Placher.”

“Wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator Mike Canales has said the same thing. The guys that practice the best, work the hardest will play, no matter who it is – a freshman or a senior. Wide receiver also is probably the deepest position, so the Bulls are able to get a lot of different players in there.”

In a pinch, though, both McMurphy and Meyer agree that Grothe is likely to seek out senior Taurus Johnson (292 yards, 4 TD, including the OT game-winner against UCF this season) or junior Jessie Hester (276 yards, 3 TD, including the OT winner against Auburn in 2007).

And if the Bulls need to work the clock late in the game with a strong running attack?

“(Coach Leavitt) loves to run Ben Williams when there is a lead and the clock needs to run,” says Meyer. “Ben advances the ball and is not prone to fumbling.”

McMurphy isn’t quite sure that will continue to be the case, however, noting the improvement of sophomore Mike Ford after an early ankle injury slowed him at the outset of the season. After missing the UCF game and getting just one carry in the team’s victory over Kansas, Ford has put up three straight outings of better than 50 yards rushing while scoring three of his 5 rushing TD’s on the season.

“Ford is finally healthy and has started to come around the past two games. He has been utilized a lot lately in the fourth quarter,” says McMurphy.

Defensively, the Bulls trot out a unit that may be even more imposing than their Top 20 counterparts on offense. Led by DE George Selvie and LB Tyler McKenzie, the Bulls have continued their punishing play in the front seven to pace the Big East and rank 7th nationally in total D. The scariest part? They’re just beginning to get healthy.

“The extra time off between the Pitt and Syracuse game (16 days) helped USF tremendously,” says McMurphy, noting the healthy returns of Selvie, LB Brouce Mompremier, and DT Terrell McClain. “Selvie looked like his 2007 version against Syracuse.”

And as dominant as the Bulls have been to-date, they looked more like their overwhelming selves against the Orange. With Selvie attacking the offensive line and drawing double- and triple-teams in coverage, the rest of the Bulls had a field day behind the line of scrimmage. Including a sack and tackle for loss by the powerful junior defensive end, the Bulls racked up a season-high 4 sacks of Cuse QB Cameron Dantley while piling up 5.5 tackles for loss.

“Selvie has been double-teamed much of the season,” says Meyer. “The Bulls need another disruptive force to take advantage of the Selvie’s attention-getting force on his side of the line.”

For much of the past season plus, secondary chaos has come in the form of linebackers Tyrone McKenzie and Brouce Mompremier. McKenzie, an All-Big XII transfer from Iowa State, has racked up tackles in bunches ever since stepping on the field for the Bulls. The senior leads all active I-A players with over 300 career stops, including a team-best 53 this year. His seven tackles for loss are also a team-high

“I think he’s most effective because, like George Selvie, he never gives up on a play,” says Meyer. “Tyrone is quick, and a good tackler to boot.”

On the other end, Mompremier has returned from a scary neck injury suffered against Florida International to take back his starting job outside. The senior has amassed just 15 tackles – including one for loss – this season, but is a force when healthy. His 83 tackles were 4th on the team in 2007 while his 6.5 TFL’s ranked 6th.

“Mompremier is a big part of the defense, along with McKenzie,” says McMurphy. “Having Mompremier back in the lineup at weakside linebacker allows McKenzie to remain at strongside linebacker and keeps Kion Wilson at middle linebacker. That’s USF’s strongest lineup when all three are in there.”

So where do opposing offenses attack this solid unit? In a bit of a surprise departure from recent seasons, deep through the air has been a common successful theme. With former Bulls DB’s Trae Williams (55 tackles, 6 INT) and Mike Jenkins (41 tackles, 3INT) now earning pro paychecks and nickel S Danny Verpaele out for the season with a broken foot, South Florida’s secondary is suddenly a unit short in the tooth and thin on depth. Senior Tyler Roberts and junior Jerome Murphy have been serviceable, combining for 60 tackles and a pair of interceptions this season, but both our informants see the drop-off from their NFL predecessors.

“The Bulls’ secondary is the chink in the armor, has been all year in my mind,” says Meyer.

Jonathan Baldwin proved that for Pitt, scoring on a 52-yard strike to tie their game with USF at seven before the Panthers went on to a 26-21 victory. Kansas’ Jonathan Wilson also took the Bulls deep, hauling in a 36-yarder to give the Jayhawks an early 7-0 lead. On the season, USF’s secondary has given up 16 passing plays of more than 20 yards, including six that have been for at least 40 yards.

Says Meyer, “If a team can throw over the top, there’s a good chance of a big gainer.”

For the Cards, that means a great opportunity for Hunter Cantwell to get on track and pull off a big upset for Louisville as it looks to return to the postseason stage. And if he and his wide receiver counterparts needs any extra incentive, all they’ll need to do is read a few comments from Tampa’s other beat writer, the St. Petersburg Times’ Greg Auman.

From his weekly live chat: “Regular blog readers know I haven’t been as impressed by Hunter Cantwell, but I think a big part of that has been that Louisville lost a ton of good receivers from last season. Their top receiver, Doug Beaumont, is a 5-9 speed guy with 33 catches but no touchdowns.”

Sounds like a good time for the Cards and their passing game to show USF a trick or two and give Lousville fans a nice Halloween treat.

The thirty-fourth edition of Wallpaper Wednesday.

Pretty Simple wallpaper of a pumpkin with the logo cut into it. I wanted to give everyone a full week to use it before if they choose to. Don’t take candy from strangers.

I’m still looking for any requests so if you have any ideas or a specific player you would like to see please let your voice be heard in the forums.

The Cards overcame another rocky start by Hunter Cantwell, who threw interceptions on each of Louisville’s first two drives and put Louisville in an early 14-0 hole. But a strong defensive performance – which held MTSU to just 30 second-half yards until the final Blue Raider possession of the game - and powerful running game (252 yards, 4 TD’s) helped Louisville pull out the victory.

“It was a good win,” said head coach Steve Kragthorpe. “We found a way to get it done. I was proud of the way our team continued to battle through the course of the game after getting down 14-0. We found a way to rally the troops and get it going.”

Complete AP Recap, Quotes, & Statistics

News, Notes, Observations, & Musings
* Ignoring Cantwell’s early INT’s, this was perhaps the most complete game of the Steve Kragthorpe era and certainly the most complete performance of the season. The Cards allowed just 306 yards of offense Saturday (91 of which came in MTSU’s final possession as Louisville tested their second and third string players), bottling the Raiders up for much of the second half as the offense took control. While the defense did struggle at times with dual-threat QB Dwight Dasher in the second quarter, overall they managed to keep plays in front of them and make big tackles to get off the field. At one point, the Cardinal D forced six consecutive three and outs by Middle Tennessee State, allowing the Cardinal offense time to continue running the ball and take control of the game.

On offense, Cardinal fans have to like seeing Anderson’s big second-quarter run (the 4th longest touchdown run in school history) and the overpowering effort of Brock Bolen. Anderson appeared to get dinged up late in the game, but was his usual exciting self in putting up his 4th 100-yard game in six outings this year.

The only complaint, in fact, may be the continued struggles of Cantwell under center. After throwing his two early picks, Hunter managed to complete just 14 of his 23 attempts for a paltry 144 yards and a late score. The senior has now thrown as many picks this season as touchdowns and still struggles to see “in front of the play” (see: the pick six to Jeremy Kellem and the crushing hit he led TE Johnnie Burns into during the third quarter). It’s tough to pull your senior leader when the team is winning and still hunting down a bowl berth, but eventually the team is going to need stronger QB play if they truly intend to contend for a Big East title. Can we at least give Matt Simms or Tyler Wolfe a little work in the second quarter, a la freshman year Brian Brohm?

* It’s hard to knock the results, but can we put an APB out on Dexter Heyman? Little-used Stephen Garr was spotted at linebacker for a few plays in the first half, yet one of the starting LB’s in the season-opening loss to Kentucky remains sidelined for unknown reasons. For all that is good in our long-term prospects, please tell me we aren’t burning another talented freshman redshirt for one start and special teams duty?

* Several big recruits were spotted at the game today, including a pair of Seattle prospects on Pitino’s 2009 radar. PG Peyton Siva was in the house, enjoying the atmosphere for much of the first half. But perhaps more interesting (since Siva is already committed, anyway) was the presence of fellow Seattle stud Aaron Dotson. The 4-star shooting guard (Rivals) and Top 100 recruit from the Class of ’09 is rumored to be Pitino’s final target for next year’s freshman crop. Where he gets the scholarship is an issue for another day.

* Also in attendance (although I was an idiot and missed it to grab a stupid bowl of stale popcorn in the press box) was Cardinal legend and NBA Hall of Famer Wes Unseld. I’ll be kicking myself for that sideline gaffe for a while.

Now the Raiders return for the finale of this three-game series, looking once again the anemic offensive part that they were in most of their eleven other 2007 games. They will meet a Cardinal defense that has improved by leaps and bounds since that forgettable September evening, hoping to heal the scars left by last year’s Blue Raider team. Will Louisville and their defense atone for last year’s meeting? Can Middle Tennessee repeat their offensive explosion once again? We get to know the Raiders “Behind Enemy Lines”.

Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (2-4, 1-3 Sun Belt)
Head Coach: Rick Stockstill (14-17 record at MTSU, overall)
2007 Record: 5-7, 4-3 Sun Belt
Returning Stat Leaders: QB Dwight Dasher (530 rushing yards), QB Joe Craddock (1,259 passing yards, 12 TD’s), RB Desmond Gee (382 receiving yards, 4 TD), CB Alex Sumber (59 tackles), LB Lonnie Clemmons (3.5 sacks), S Jeremy Kellem (3 INT)
Other Key Players: LB Danny Carmichael, DE Wes Hofacker, WR Malcolm Beyah, WR Patrick Honeycutt, DT Trevor Jenkins, OL Jamal Lewis, OL Mark Thompson, RB Phillip Tanner
Key Losses: DE Tavares Jones, DE Erik Walden, RB DeMarco McNair, S Damon Nickson, TE Clinton Corder, OL Franklin Dunbar, WR Taron Henry, OL Brandon Nix, CB Roy Polite, CB Bradley Robinson, LB Derek Shropshire

What They’re Saying
For the bulk of Louisville fans who haven’t repressed the nightmarish memories of last year’s meeting between the Cards and Raiders, a quick look down the MTSU depth chart is enough to get the blood pressure boiling. Almost all the usual suspects return from the team that cut up Louisville’s defense for 555 total yards of offense: Joe Craddock, Desmond Gee, Phillip Tanner, Patrick Honeycutt. But what the depth chart doesn’t tell you is how much of an anomaly last year’s offensive blitzkrieg was for the Blue Raiders.

A team which showed so much promise with their aggressive, frenetic play during Coach Rick Stockstill’s 2006 debut (culminating in the team’s first-ever bowl bid and a Sun Belt Conference title) became little more than a one-game wonder in 2007. Despite the video game numbers they laid on Louisville, Middle Tennessee managed just 24 points and a shade over 300 yards of offense per game the rest of the season. It was a recipe for a sub-.500 finish and a 4-3 Sun Belt record.

“MTSU was young and inconsistent,” says Adam Sparks, journalist with the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal. “Injuries slowed them down late in the year. Keep in mind, they scored 40-plus points three times, so that potential was always there.”

And much of that potential has returned in 2008, but still without the production. That may have a lot to do with the lack of returning talent on both lines, where the Raiders have struggled to find capable experienced bodies to create running lanes, give their quarterbacks time in the pocket, and disrupt the opposing offense. Gone are stand-out defensive ends Tavares Jones (team-high 7 sacks & 61 tackles) and Erik Walden (2 sacks, 46 tackles), leaving few difference-makers up front for MTSU.

“Middle has an extremely solid front four with a good deal of experience,” says Chip Walters, color commentator for the Blue Raider Radio Network. “However, you don’t have a guy like Walden that just blew up plays right and left. This group probably contains better, but may not have some of the flashy stats.”

“Walden and Jones were NFL-caliber guys,” adds Sparks. “MTSU is still looking for another pair like that.”

In the interim, the bulk of the playmaking duties have fallen to the linebackers and secondary for better or worse. The unit has been led this season by sophomore S Jeremy Kellem and junior LB Danny Carmichael. The pair rank 1-2 in tackles on the team while adding a combined 5 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, and a sack.

LB Ivon Hickman (40 tackles, team-high 6.5 TFL), DB Alex Suber (team-best 2 INT), and S Anthony Glover have also shown flashes.

Says Walters, “The linebackers have played very consistently this year and Carmichael is the best cover guy out of that group. In the secondary, Suber and Glover have been playing very well of late.”

“Kellem has u