Filed under: Louisville, Pittsburgh, Big East
PITTSBURGH -- The Big East championship now runs through Pittsburgh. Shaky in non-conference play, the Panthers' steely efforts through three weeks of conference play are an appropriate fit for the people of their hometown who anticipated big things in 2010. First, they thrashed Syracuse 45-14, not that a victory like that could make waves several weeks ago, before the Orange's dramatic rebirth. Then, they manhandled an emotionally drained Rutgers 41-21. And Saturday, they dented another conference foe, this time red-hot Louisville, 20-3.
Making the most of its "second season," the Panthers own the Big East's only unblemished conference record at 3-0, and own the head-to-head tiebreak against surprising Syracuse. Barring an epic late-season collapse, they look like the runaway favorite to capture the Big East crown and head to an amusing, controversial BCS bowl appearance.
Weak quarterback play has stymied nearly every offense in the conference, but the Panthers' Tino Sunseri, in just his 8th career start, has turned himself into a difference-maker. Standout tailbacks Dion Lewis and Ray Graham certainly had their fair share of yards and touches, but it was Sunseri who finally put the offense on his back. A 13-yard scramble on the Panthers' opening drive revealed a new dimension in Sunseri's game.
Earlier in the season, Sunseri struggled to connect with his receivers, and only kept the passing game alive with the occasional deep ball. That was the pattern for several weeks before piecing together elements of an intermediate passing game against Florida International, Notre Dame and Syracuse, in succession. He added a short passing element in finding fullback Henry Hynoski seven times against Rutgers last week.
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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/10/30/the-big-east-championship-now-runs-through-pittsburgh/
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