Big East Notebook: Brown Is New White

After losing to West Virginia Saturday, East Carolina coach Skip Holtz grabbed West Virginia QB Jarrett Brown to talk to him briefly.

It actually was one of the few times a Pirate got a hand on Brown.

"I told him that I've seen a lot of quarterbacks play, but I was impressed with the way he handed himself," Holtz told reporters. "He's a big quarterback. He's hard to bring down."

Holtz even went old school in complimenting Brown.

"He's a big athletic quarterback and I think he's got the whole package," Holtz said. "There was one play when I think we had him for a 1-yard loss and all of a sudden he comes plowing out of the pile like (former Miami Dolphins fullback) Larry Csonka or something."

So far after two games what was thought to be West Virginia's biggest question mark this season – how would Brown replace Pat White? – has turned into a strength for the Mountaineers.

"He's a big, strong armed guy," WVU coach Bill Stewart said. "He's a very polished guy for not being a full-time starter as Patrick White was for three-to-four years.

"He's patiently waited (behind White). He's been exciting to watch, his athleticism. He's strong. Our players, they know on any snap the ball can come whistling out there."

Against East Carolina, White threw for 334 yards and four TDs. He also rushed for 73 yards, giving him 407 yards of total offense. In the past two seasons, White never topped the 400-yard total offense mark.

Brown also already has completions of 46, 55 and 58 yards in two games, while the Mountaineers only had four completions of 40 yards or longer four times during all of 2008.

It's still too early to call Brown a success in replacing White, a three-time All-Big East quarterback. But so far in Morgantown, Brown is the new White.


Face It: Cincinnati Face of Big East

Like it or not, Cincinnati has become the face of the Big East Conference.

The Bearcats are the league's only team ranked in the Associated Press poll at No. 17. On Saturday, Cincinnati (2-0) visits Oregon State (2-0).

"We've got to be able to represent the Big East as defending Big East champs," Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said. "It's definitely part of how we carry ourselves. We're representing a Big East Conference that continues to build and emerge.

"These are opportunities outside the league that we want to win."

Win is something a non-conference opponent has not done in Corvallis, Ore., in 13 years. The Beavers have won 26 consecutive non-conference games since losing to Montana on Sept. 7, 1996.

Oregon State coach Mike Riley is 16-0 at home against non-Pac 10 foes.

Kelly, whose club is the first nationally ranked non-conference team to visit Corvallis since No. 13 BYU in 1977, knows what a difficult challenge it will be facing the Rodgers' brothers – Jacquizz and James.

"Both Rodgers are outstanding players and Mike Riley does a great job of running the offense through them," Kelly said. "You can't stop them. It's a matter of managing their touches. You can't give up big plays."

Safety first? Don't Remind UConn

How pivotal and potentially devastating, was UConn's 12-10 loss to North Carolina Saturday? It may have put a serious crimp on the Huskies' bowl hopes.

Sure, there are 10 games remaining, starting this week at Baylor. But if the Huskies can't contain Bears QB Robert Griffin and lose in Waco, UConn would be 1-2.

That would leave four road games -- all of which UConn will be sizeable underdogs -- at Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Notre Dame. So unless, the Huskies pull off a road upset, they would have to win out at home to get to six wins and make their third consecutive bowl appearance.

For the immediate future, UConn coach Randy Edsall has to find a way for his team to rally. A team that will be without starting quarterback Zach Frazier for at least another game with a knee injury. Also, inebacker Scott Lutrus, the Huskies' defensive leader, didn't play last week with a shoulder injury and might be out again this week.

Then there's the whole mental state after losing a game they should have won on a safety when an offensive lineman was penalized for holding in the end zone in the final minutes.

"We had a tough game, one you don't like to come out on the end we did," Edsall said.

The Huskies (1-1) are hurting, but Edsall said he believes his club has put last week's loss behind them.

"They'll be fine," Edsall said. "When the game's over, there's nothing more you can do. We have a saying around here: 'Last week doesn't matter this week.' "