There are a couple of items I have been holding onto for today, and of course Randy Edsall tells The Day he isn't interested in Syracuse (blog post below)
It's important for recruiting to end this now, and these things tend to have a life of their own. Even this statement won't stop the talk,but the coaching staff can go recruit and have some ammunition to fight back against questions of coach leaving. Recruits aren't going to jump on if the coach may jump off.
It's important for recruiting and morale for Edsall to say this. I am sure some of his players questioned him, likely prompting this response. It's sufficient and total.
Also, is it that much of a surprise? Outside of his roots, does Syracuse really offer more than UConn as far as potential? Syracuse is an attractive job, but objectively, UConn's infrastructure is superior. This is flat out about winning. Take the names off the uniform and get rid of history. It's about infrastructure and future.
Why would a Donovan McNabb or Dwight Freeney pick Syracuse over UConn or Rutgers right now. Those players could very well pick UConn or Rutgers. In fact, they already have (Donald Brown, Ray Rice, etc.) .
For my money, unless a highly paid NFL job plops on his desk, the only logical fit for Edsall to leave would be Penn St. But, that is the unicorn of coaching positions. Others have waited 25 years for that job. When it does open everyone and their mother will want it.
PSU has a tremendous infrastructure and recruiting base. Syracuse is more remote, doesn't have a strong recruiting base in-state and it has aging infrastructure with a demanding fan base. You can win at Syracuse, they aren't going to turn into Army. But, I don't see anywhere that Syracuse can go that UConn can't go.
Syracuse is a great job. But, so is UConn.
In to today's JI: Here is a Tyler Lorenzen column off Saturday's game. I kind of write a hybrid story because we don't publish on Sunday.
Notre Dame and a bowl: I have confirmed the Notre Dame bowl scenario and Chip Malafronte from the Runway Blog and the Register is correct.
After much confusion I have gotten the Notre Dame bowl scenario nailed down: There is no contractual two game buffer for the Gator Bowl in selecting the Big East/Notre Dame. But, the Gator has a gentleman's agreement that they will honor a two game spread. So 7-5 ND won't take the Gator over a 10-2 Cincinnati or Pittsburgh team. But, but but... the Sun Bowl has no such handshake agreement. It is conceivable, and maybe even likely, that if the Gator passes on a Big East team the Sun takes Notre Dame at 7-5.
That's bad news for the Big East, especially a team like Pittsburgh that beat the Irish and could end up in the International Bowl despite a pretty good record. Root for Syracuse to be inspired this weekend against the Irish.
Edit: Thanks to Jared in comments. Of course ND can't take a spot at 6-6 over a 7-5 Big East team. Syracuse needs to come up big for the Big East this week.
Larry Taylor stars: Larry Taylor sets a CFL record for punt return touchdowns in a game (2). If he saw Jasper Howard Saturday Taylor would be proud.
Vote D Brown to Doak Walker: The winner of the fan vote gets that player a real Doak Walker Award vote. http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/rank?versionId=2&listId=60
4 comments:
John
Per NCAA Bylaw 30.9.2.1 an institution with a record of six wins and six losses may be
selected for participation in a bowl game if 1) the institution or its conference has a primary
contractual affiliation, which existed prior to the first contest of the applicable season, with
the sponsoring bowl organization. In the case of a conference contractual affiliation, all
conference teams with winning records must be placed in one of the contracted bowl games
before any institution with a record of six wins and six losses may be placed in a contracted
bowl game; and 2) all contractual affiliations have been fulfilled and all institutions with
winning records have received bowl invitations (either through a contractual affiliation or
as an at-large selection).
In the case of a conference contractual affiliation, all conference teams with winning
records must be placed in one of the contracted bowl games before any institution with a
record of six wins and six losses may be placed in a contracted bowl game. There shall be
no contingency agreements with other sponsoring bowl organizations intended to enable an
institution with a record of six wins and six losses to become eligible for those contests.
http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/football/2008/psfootball_handbook.pdf (page 9)
It seems by that rule, Notre Dame has to reach at least 7 wins to be picked over someone who is themselves at 7 wins or more. So the Sun could only take them if they get to 7-5
Yes, that is correct Jared. ND has to be 7-5 to get selected. I am assuming the Irish defeat Syracuse.
Don't think a 6-6 ND team is going anywhere.
The Gator Bowl is going to pass on Notre Dame for Nebraska and ND will go to the Sun Bowl. That's the good word I heard from a Nebraska friend of mine.
Sean O, that's likely. The Gator can take ND next year if they don't qualify for the BCS and the Cotton Bowl goes another way. They should take a shot at the Big 12 one more time.
The Big East No. 2 isn't really attractive this year, and ND isn't either.
If the Sun gets a chance to take Notre Dame, it is almost certain to do it. Root for Cuse this week. They got to play well sometime,right?
Sun Bowl is a game I would love to go to. I don't see how UConn ever ends up there however. That game is all about creating sizzle on television.
That's too bad,a 9-3 UConn team deserves that type of game (as it did a year ago).
Car Care will go Pitt or WVU (WVU most likely). That leaves Pitt and UConn holding the scraps. I would be interested to see what the new bowl contracts bring.
Post a Comment