SCOUTING REPORT | Big East

MIAMI HURRICANES
2002: 12-1 overall; 7-0 Big East (1st)
Coach: Larry Coker
Returning starters: 13; 6 offense, 7 defense
Players to watch: RB Frank Gore, TE Kellen Winslow Jr., WR Jason Geathers, OL Vernon Carey, OL Carlos Joseph, DT Vince Wilfork, MLB Jonathan Vilma, WLB D.J. Williams, FS Sean Taylor, CB Antrel Rolle
Outlook: The linebackers and secondary should be among the nation's best. Those units key a potent defense that gives the Hurricanes a nice safety net if their revamped offense struggles.
Schedule:
Saturday -- at Louisiana Tech7:30
Sep. 6 -- Florida8
Sep. 13 -- East Carolina7
Sep. 20 -- at Boston CollegeTBA
Oct. 2 -- West Virginia7:30
Oct. 11 -- at Florida St.TBA
Oct. 18 -- TempleTBA
Nov. 1 -- at Virginia TechTBA
Nov. 8 -- TennesseeTBA
Nov. 15 -- SyracuseTBA
Nov. 22 -- RutgersTBA
Nov. 29 -- at PittsburghTBA
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
2002: 9-4 overall; 5-2 Big East (3rd)
Coach: Walt Harris
Returning starters: 17; 8 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter
Players to watch: WR Larry Fitzgerald, RB Brandon Miree, QB Rod Rutherford, TE Kris Wilson, FB Lousaka Polite, DE Claude Harriott, LB Lewis Moore, CB Shawntae Spencer
Outlook: The defense carried the team last year and it should be stellar again this year. The offense has eight starters returning, including quarterback Rod Rutherford, and is deep, versatile and should score a lot of points in a variety of ways. The Panthers also feature what could be the best kicker/ punter combination in the country.
Schedule:
Sep. 6 -- Kent St.7
Sep. 13 -- Ball St.TBA
Sep. 20 -- at Toledo7
Sep. 27 -- at Texas A & amp;MTBA
Oct. 11 -- Notre DameTBA
Oct. 18 -- at RutgersNoon
Oct. 25 -- SyracuseTBA
Nov. 1 -- at Boston CollegeTBA
Nov. 8 -- Virginia TechTBA
Nov. 15 -- at West VirginiaTBA
Nov. 22 -- at TempleTBA
Nov. 29 -- MiamiTBA
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
2002: 10-4 overall; 3-4 Big East (T-4th)
Coach: Frank Beamer
Returning starters: 18; 8 offense, 9 defense, kicker, punter
Players to watch: QB Bryan Randall, TB Kevin Jones, WR Ernest Wilford, C Jake Grove, DE Nathaniel Adibi, DE Cols Colas, LB Vegas Robinson, CB/WR DeAngelo Hall
Outlook: With big-play threats throughout the offense, the Hokies should score a ton of points. Grove is probably the conference's top center. Adibi and Colas combined for 18 sacks and are as quick to the quarterback as any ends in the Big East.
Schedule:
Sunday -- UCF3
Sep. 6 -- James Madison1
Sep. 18 -- Texas A & amp;M7:30
Sep. 27 -- ConnecticutNoon
Oct. 4 -- at RutgersNoon
Oct. 11 -- SyracuseTBA
Oct. 22 -- at West Virginia7:30
Nov. 1 -- MiamiTBA
Nov. 8 -- at PittsburghTBA
Nov. 15 -- at TempleTBA
Nov. 22 -- Boston CollegeTBA
Nov. 29 -- at VirginiaTBA
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
2002: 9-4 overall; 6-1 Big East (2nd)
Coach: Rich Rodriguez
Returning starters: 10; 5 offense, 4 defense, kicker
Players to watch: RB Quincy Wilson, QB Rasheed Marshall, WR Miquelle Henderson, OT Tim Brown, LB Grant Wiley, LB Adam Lehnortt, CB Lance Frazier, CB Brian King
Outlook: With the departure of Avon Cobourne, Quincy Wilson becomes the primary focus of the running game. He and Rasheed Marshall should produce more than their share of big plays. Grant Wiley is the unquestioned leader defensively, while Lance Frazier and Brian King are capable cover guys.
Schedule:
Saturday -- WisconsinNoon
Sep. 6 -- at East Carolina7
Sep. 13 -- CincinnatiNoon
Sep. 20 -- at MarylandTBA
Oct. 2 -- at Miami7:30
Oct. 11 -- RutgersTBA
Oct. 22 -- Virginia Tech7:30
Nov. 1 -- UCFTBA
Nov. 8 -- at Boston CollegeTBA
Nov. 15 -- PittsburghTBA
Nov. 22 -- at SyracuseTBA
Nov. 29 -- TempleTBA
BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
2002: 9-4 overall; 3-4 Big East (T-4th)
Coach: Tom O'Brien
Returning starters: 12; 5 offense, 6 defense, kicker
Players to watch: RB Derrick Knight, OG Augie Hoffmann, WR Taylor Sele,TE Sean Ryan, OG Chris Snee, DT Doug Goodwin, DE Mathias Kiwanuka, LB Josh Ott, CB Will Blackmon, PK Sandro Sciortino
Outlook: Knight combined for more than 1,800 yards rushing and receiving last year, and will be counted on to at least duplicate that. Sciortino set a school record with 23 field goals. The defense, terrific against the pass last season, should be solid overall.
Schedule:
Saturday -- Wake ForestTBA
Sep. 6 -- at Penn St.Noon
Sep. 13 -- at ConnecticutNoon
Sep. 20 -- MiamiTBA
Sep. 27 -- Ball St.TBA
Oct. 11 -- at TempleTBA
Oct. 18 -- at SyracuseNoon
Oct. 25 -- Notre DameTBA
Nov. 1 -- PittsburghTBA
Nov. 8 -- West VirginiaTBA
Nov. 15 -- at RutgersTBA
Nov. 22 -- at Virginia TechTBA
SYRACUSE ORANGEMEN
2002: 4-8 overall; 2-5 Big East (T-6th)
Coach: Paul Pasqualoni
Returning starters: 13; 6 offense, 6 defense, kicker
Players to watch: RB Walter Reyes, C Nick Romeo, NT Christian Ferrara, DE Josh Thomas, DT Louis Gachelin, LB Rich Scanlan, CB Steve Gregory
Outlook: Reyes, the former Struthers High standout, and Damien Rhodes give the Orangemen a terrific 1-2 punch at tailback. The defensive line returns intact, while LB Kelvin Smith and CB Steve Gregory offer promise for the future.
Schedule:
Sep. 6 -- at North Carolina1:30
Sep. 13 -- LouisvilleNoon
Sep. 20 -- UCFNoon
Sep. 27 -- Toledo6:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 -- at Virginia TechTBA
Oct. 18 -- Boston CollegeNoon
Oct. 25 -- at PittsburghTBA
Nov. 8 -- TempleTBA
Nov. 15 -- at MiamiTBA
Nov. 22 -- West VirginiaTBA
Nov. 29 -- at RutgersTBA
Dec. 6 -- Notre Dame1
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
2002: 1-11 overall; 0-7 Big East (8th)
Coach: Greg Schiano
Returning starters: 13; 5 offense, 7 defense, 1 kicker
Players to watch: QB Ryan Hart, WR Shawn Tucker, WR Tres Moses, DE Raheem Orr, DE Alfred Peterson, LB William Beckford, CB/KR Nate Jones
Outlook: The Knights should be able to hold their own on defense and appear to have the offensive leader they've long sought in Hart. The non-conference schedule offers multiple victories.
Schedule:
Saturday -- Buffalo7
Sep. 6 -- at Michigan St.3:30
Sep. 13 -- at Army3:30
Sep. 27 -- Navy7
Oct. 4 -- Virginia TechNoon
Oct. 11 -- at West VirginiaTBA
Oct. 18 -- PittsburghNoon
Oct. 25 -- at TempleNoon
Nov. 8 -- at ConnecticutNoon
Nov. 15 -- Boston CollegeTBA
Nov. 22 -- at MiamiTBA
Nov. 29 -- SyracuseTBA
TEMPLE OWLS
2002: 4-8 overall; 2-5 Big East (6th)
Coach: Bobby Wallace
Returning starters: 10; 6 offense, 4 defense
Players to watch: QB Mike McGann, QB Walter Washington, RB Makonnen Fenton, WR Zamir Cobb, WR Terrence Stubbs, DL Rodney Wormley, LB Rian Wallace, LB Troy Bennett
Outlook: Temple has a steady defense, led by linebackers Wallace and Bennett. Cobb and Stubbs are quality receivers.
Schedule:
Aug. 30 -- at Penn St.3:30
Sep. 6 -- VillanovaTBA
Sep. 20 -- at Cincinnati7
Sep. 27 -- at Louisville3
Oct. 4 -- at Middle Tennessee7
Oct. 11 -- Boston CollegeTBA
Oct. 18 -- at MiamiTBA
Oct. 25 -- RutgersNoon
Nov. 8 -- at SyracuseTBA
Nov. 15 -- Virginia TechTBA
Nov. 22 -- PittsburghTBA
Nov. 29 -- at West VirginiaTBA
-- Scripps Howard News Service