About two years ago, the unranked and 4-7 Pittsburgh Panthers headed into a cold Mountaineer Field to face then-No. 2 West Virginia. It was supposed to be an easy game for the Mountaineers. Just take care of the Panthers, who were 4-touchdown underdogs, and they would have an easy ride to the BCS Championship Game. Oh, and give the Big East some legitimacy in college football.
The Panthers, who were struggling in coach Dave Wannstedt's second year, were under a lot of scrutiny and questions loomed about the team's direction. But sometimes it takes just one win — especially in the Backyard Brawl — to change the minds of fans.
As the story goes, Pitt held Pat White and Jarrett Brown to a combined 79 passing yards, 69 rushing yards, and a touchdown by Brown. The Panther offense didn't do anything special, as current third-string quarterback Pat Bostick threw 2 interceptions and for only 67 yards, though Bostick did score Pitt's only touchdown on a one-yard quarterback keeper in the third quarter. But with strong defensive stand after strong defensive stand, the Panthers wore down the Mountaineers and left the home team trying to figure out how it blew a chance to fight for a BCS Championship.
Just as the West Virginia coaches, players, and fans had time to think about an upset loss to their rivals to the north, Big East officials had similar thoughts. It makes for a great game and even some legitimacy within the conference whenever a team like that Pitt squad can take down, 13-9, a team like that year's Mountaineers, but it doesn't help on the national level. Ever since that upset, the Big East conference has struggled to find an identity on the field.
But the Pitt/West Virginia game happened in 2007. It's over and people have moved on — except for maybe Rich Rodriguez. Why should a team like Boise State from the Western Athletic Conference or TCU from the Mountain West have a better shot at the title game than a Big East champ? Or perhaps more importantly, why do they get more respect from the rest of the country? Because last year, the highest ranked team from the Big East was the Cincinnati Bearcats. They finished the year at No. 17 after they were upset by then-No. 19 Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. The Bearcats were the conference's BCS team last year, but they but struggled against an ACC opponent.
But last year is over and people have moved on. Except Cincinnati. After starting the 2009 campaign a perfect 5-0, the Bearcats have catapulted themselves into the top 10 in the country and, along with South Florida (No. 21), have started to rejuvenate a conference that was looking for some national credit.
Quarterback Tony Pike is leading the offense, as he ranks among the top 10 in the country in both touchdowns (13) and quarterback rating (159.9). He's helped his team score at least 28 points in all their victories this season. On the defensive side, the Bearcats have held opponents to less than 20 points in each of their first five games. So far this season, they are tied with Pittsburgh for second in the nation in sacks (20), and tied for fourth with 10 interceptions.
The Bearcats are the team to beat in the Big East this year. They have a similar feel to the 2007 Mountaineers and are ranked exactly the same as West Virginia was two years ago. This is good news for a conference that is looking to make big strides in the collegiate football scene. But things aren't always as they appear, as the Big East found out a little less than two years ago, when Pitt defeated West Virginia in the last game of the season.
And who knows what will happen this year because — just like in 2007 — the Bearcats will face the Panthers in the final game of the season.
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