Good and Bad

Louisville defeated Wake Forest which secured the Conference Bowl Challenge thing for the Big East, now 4-0 with only the International Bowl remaining. And the Cardinals defeating Wake made the ACC the worst of the 6 BCS conferences. Both are good things. But I can't help but really have a dislike for the Cardinals and feel that I would have enjoyed seeing them lose. Louisville has, in many ways, become Miami-north. From the ghetto-style L on the hats to the attitude and rap music blaring at their games, Louisville is trying to emulate the Hurricanes brand of football. And I am not a fan of that.

Secondly, the announcers for the Orange Bowl said that Louisville's win over Wake Forest proved that Louisville was on of college football's "elite" programs. And that is because? They beat Wake Forest? I don't know. Yes, Bobby Petrino has really impressive numbers at Louisville but I don't think you can say the Cardinals are an elite program and the Mountaineers are not. Is that fair? WVU won a Sugar Bowl last year, a Gator Bowl this year and has played in 4 straight traditional New Year's bowl games.

In the past 5 years, Louisville is 50-13 with 3 of those years were in Conference USA. They were conference champions in Conference USA in 2004 and Big East Champions in 2006. They are 2-3 in bowls during those 5 years with wins in the Liberty Bowl against Boise State and the Orange Bowl against Wake Forest. West Virginia is 47-16 in the last 5 years which includes Big East Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005. They are 2-3 in bowl games with wins in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia and the Gator Bowl against Georgia Tech. Very similar numbers. Head-to-head they each have one victory.

It may sound like sour grapes in the end, but I don't think it's fair to call Louisville an elite team without including West Virginia in the same category. The numbers speak for themselves. It appears both teams are on the same track really. And I'm happy about that. I just don't like Louisville's swagger and I think it will cost them fans eventually.

Anyway, I think it's fair to say the Big East has definitely reestablished itself as a football conference with this year's bowl season. I'll be anxious to see how much further the conference can advance. WVU vs. Louisville for Big East supremecy looks like a battle that will continue for several years barring a Petrino exit (if Saban doesn't take the Alabama job, Petrino could be next for the offer.)

Lastly, hope LSU whips Notre Dame tonight in the Sugar Bowl. 100-3 sounds like a great score to me. And hopefully the basketball team can continue to defy the odds and beat a sound Villanova team tonight. Should be a good game.