Campus Confidential

By Adam Abramson

So I dropped the ball.

I should have released two conferences on Monday so I could unveil the Top 4 solo. But, I didn't think ahead even though I wrote ahead.

So, this morning I'll bring you the conference that is...next to weakest? Later today I'll drop another conference on you. Two-fer Tuesday.

But before that, I want to share some Charlie Weis quotes about his prized recruit at quarterback, Jimmy Clausen.

Clausen was nabbed outside of a liquor store and cited for...well, breaking the law. Apparently he was with someone of age who was purchasing liquor. Maybe he's just a nice guy and was giving someone a ride. But then again, he's a college freshman.

Here's his coach's take:

"So was (Clausen) in the wrong place at the wrong time? Absolutely. But I think it's out of ignorance, and by ignorance I mean lack of knowledge. I don't think he was defiantly trying to get himself in trouble with the law."

Huh? Two key things here:

1. Defiantly trying to get himself in trouble with the law...who defiantly tries? Rioters. Assuming Jimmy is guilty, he's like everyone else who breaks the law: In the wrong place in the wrong time.

2. Lack of knowledge? Of the law? I was busted by an RA for something similar my freshman year of college. I didn't defiantly try to get myself in trouble with the law. But I knew what the H-E-double hockey stick what I was doing. I was breaking the rules and I got caught.

To Weis' credit, he did say "You can't sit there and say, when something happens, that nothing happened."

Thanks, coach.

Moving on...

Big East

Huh? The conference has three teams in the Top 16!

Yeah, but who else? South Florida has proven it's a program to be reckoned with, but I wouldn't say it's at the next level, yet. Connecticut is improving, but still has a bit of work before it can talk a big game. Syracuse has fallen off the map (and really needs to get the people in place to get it back on…). Pitt is once again teetering on the map, but I think it's going to be another year or two.

Last year, the Big East proved it can play tough defense and run the ball and it will do the same this season. It's a very young and promising conference that has rebounded in the wake of the ACC's liquidation.

Holding on to Greg Schiano and Rich Rodriguez was really important for the state of the conference this year and the years to come. Keeping Bobby Petrino around would have gone a long way, especially in the near future.

One program to keep an eye on is Cincinnati. The Bearcats won eight games in 2006, despite playing five against the Top 25. It might be a tough year with a new coach and offense in place. Brian Kelly is going to take a very balanced offense and turn it into a very pass-heavy attack. It's tough to implant that in Year One. But overall, the Bearcats could be winning bowl games in the near future (as they did in 2006).

Speaking of bowl games, the Big East was 5-0 last year. Not too shabby for an eight-team conference. And one of those teams, Pitt, is fast-growing and could be making waves as early as next season.

Once left for dead, the Big East is making moves and isn't a group to sleep on.

Predicted order of finish:
1. West Virginia
2. Rutgers
3. Louisville
4. South Florida
5. Pittsburgh
6. Cincinnati
7. Connecticut
8. Syracuse