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Big East overview

Vick vicious, but Hurricanes set to sweep back to top

By Mitch Vingle, Special to CNNSI.com

Receiver Santana Moss is one of several weapons for the Hurricanes. Jamie Squire/Allsport

Projected Order of Finish 1. Miami 2. Virginia Tech 3. Syracuse 4. West Virginia 5. Boston College 6. Pittsburgh 7. Temple 8. Rutgers

Top Storylines

There are three tiers within the Big East this season. Miami and Virginia Tech will fight for the top spot. Syracuse, West Virginia, Boston College and Pitt will battle in T-2. And Temple and Rutgers will again pound on the inside of the basement door. UM's Butch Davis and company could make a run at the national title, with Florida State and Virginia Tech scheduled to visit the 'Canes. The Hokies' Michael Vick, however, wants a Heisman Trophy before he dashes off to the NFL. Meanwhile, fans in Syracuse turned ugly last season and coach Paul Pasqualoni, despite five straight bowls, is feeling the heat, while some in West Virginia are wondering if the game hasn't passed Don Nehlen by. Rutgers' Terry Shea has been told this is his final straw. And the Big East put Temple's entire football program on notice to shape up.

Where They'll be for the Holidays
BCS Blessed	Dot-Com Doomed	Confined to Couch
Miami Virginia Tech	Syracuse West Virginia Boston College	Pitt Temple Rutgers

Best of All Worlds

Quarterback

Virginia Tech Michael Vick

Running Back

Miami James Jackson, Najeh Davenport, Clinton Portis, Jarrett Payton

Ends

Miami Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne, Andre King

Offensive Line

Virginia Tech Josh Redding, Dave Kadela, Matt Lehr, Anthony Lambo

Defensive Line

Syracuse Duke Pettijohn, Rickie Simpkins, Eric Downing

Linebackers

Syracuse Morlon Greenwood, Clifton Smith, J.R. Johnson

Secondary

Miami Leonard Myers, Al Blades, Mike Rumph, Ed Reed

Special Teams

West Virginia Mark Fazzolari, Antonio Brown

Coaching

Virginia Tech Frank Beamer, Rickey Bustle, Bud Foster

Status Report

Set to Go Skygliding

Boston College A couple of good recruiting classes have the Eagles in position but a year away from full bloom.

Set to Go Cliffdiving

West Virginia If the Mountaineers don't bounce back from 4-7 (as they've done twice under Nehlen), the cries for his head may be too loud to ignore.

About to Step Up

Emmett Johnson, WR, Virginia Tech Johnson is the 6-3 wide receiver now lining up opposite returning standout Andre Davis. QB Vick loves Johnson's speed, hands and ability to jump.

Hasn't Stepped Up Yet

Mike McMahon, QB, Rutgers The quarterback is one of the most prolific passers in school history, but he's thrown more interceptions than TDs in each of his three years as a starter.

Schedules

Brutal Schedule

Miami Miami faces Washington, Florida State and Virginia Tech, though UM plays the last two in the Orange Bowl.

Breather Schedule

Temple Bobby Wallace may be losing, but he's not dumb. The Owls play two MAC teams. The toughest non-conference game is against Maryland.

Mark Your Calendar

Boston College at West Virginia, Sept. 2 We'll see who is a pretender and who is a contender in the season opener for both schools. Virginia Tech at Miami, Nov. 4 It should be for the Big East title and, possibly, a shot at a national title. Miami at Syracuse, Nov. 18 The Hurricanes will have to win a night game in the Carrier Dome.

Mitch Vingle covers the Big East for the Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette. He will write a weekly CNNSI.com conference insider this season.

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