WVU's goal is to aim higher
The Mountaineers, No. 5 last year, may be contenders for a national title.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Big East has been out of the national championship picture since Miami and Virginia Tech left the league two years ago.
West Virginia is hoping to do something about that.
After the Mountaineers went 11-1 and beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to finish No. 5 in the final poll, coach Rich Rodriguez is entertaining notions that this year's team could be even better.
"We've got a quote in our locker room that says, 'The problem with most people is not that they aim too high and miss, but aim too low and hit it,' " Rodriguez said. "We're going to aim high and see what happens."
He wasn't more specific, but aiming THAT high isn't something that's been done often in Morgantown, W.Va.
There's the annual droning of league titles and Bowl Championship Series berths. But national championships? West Virginia has yet to snare one, and that talk usually occurred when Virginia Tech and Miami were the opponents.
There were 11-0 regular seasons in 1988 and 1993 which were followed by bowl losses. Teams with lofty preseason expectations in 1998 and 2004 went 8-4.
Groundwork was laid
For 2006, the groundwork was laid in the middle of last season when Pat White took over at quarterback, and Steve Slaton at running back. West Virginia used a triple-overtime win over Louisville as a springboard to a third straight Big East title and first BCS berth.
The roles are reversed this time. West Virginia is no longer the underdog, Louisville isn't the favorite.
"How are you going to deal with high expectations? How are you going to keep your team from getting their heads too big?" Rodriguez said. "Those are legitimate questions but they are not a big concern to me. We think we know our guys."
West Virginia's top preseason issue was finding a capable backup for White. Adam Bednarik, last year's starter until mid-season, was lost for 2006 after having shoulder surgery.
Rodriguez also is concerned about keeping a solid two-deep roster over a 12-game schedule.
"We have quality, but not the depth you'd think a Top 5 or Top 10 team would have," he said.
Louisville's Brohm back
Louisville, whose 9-3 record missed expectations, returns Big East offensive player of the year Brian Brohm at quarterback and running back Michael Bush, who led the nation with 24 touchdowns. The Cardinals led the Big East by a wide margin with 482 yards of offense and 43 points per game.
Pittsburgh went 5-6 in coach Dave Wannstedt's first season, considered one of the most disappointing in school history. Junior college transfer Lowell Robinson, who returned three of his seven interceptions for touchdowns in 2005, has been moved to wide receiver. Craig Bokor, a defensive tackle, will start at offensive guard to improve depth on the line. Freshman Kevin Collier is vying to replace leading rusher Rashad Jennings, who transferred to Liberty to be near his ailing father.
Rutgers sophomore Mike Teel is expected to take over for QB Ryan Hart, the school's career passing leader. The Knights have a solid 1-2 ground game in TB Ray Rice (1,120 yards, 5 TDs) and FB Brian Leonard (740, 11).
Ponton likely candidate
South Florida sophomore Ricky Ponton (373 yards, 2 TDs) is the likely candidate to replace departed Big East rushing leader Andre Hall. The Bulls return 15 starters from the team went to the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
Connecticut junior LB Danny Lansanah heads a defense that was the stingiest in the Big East with 297 yards per game.
Cincinnati sophomore Dustin Grutzka was fourth among league quarterbacks last season with 1,799 yards passing but tied with two others with a league-worst 11 interceptions.
Under first-year coach Greg Robinson, Syracuse suffered the first 10-loss season in 116 years. Following two defections, Brian White was hired as offensive coordinator, and Phil Earley as the new quarterbacks coach.
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