NEWPORT, R.I. -- Less than two years.
Adjust your timetables and throw common sense out the window. That's how long it took the Big East to bounce back and prove everybody wrong.
On Jan. 2, 2006, West Virginia defeated Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, 38-35, prompting many to call it the biggest upset in Bowl Championship Series history. Instead, it was the symbolic turning point for the fortunes of a conference abandoned by heavyweights Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College.
Many of the conference's coaches pointed to an across-the-board commitment by the schools to commit resources to their programs, allowing for faster growth. Instead of letting the situation gradually revert to the way things used to be, they made sure it was even better.
"When we reorganized, every athletic director in the conference truly believed we would rebuild the league," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "We chose to shut our mouths and go to work."
As with any rebuilding job, you need a blueprint, and West Virginia's Sugar Bowl victory laid the groundwork for the reemergence of the Big East.
First came the stars -- the Mountaineers' victory doubled as the coming-out party for the speedster duo of quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton. Running coach Rich Rodriguez's read-option offense to near-perfection, they've steamrolled opponents who can't decide which threat to devote resources to, only to see the other one sprint into the end zone. When the critics said Georgia's physical defense, an SEC trademark, would finally be the brick wall, Slaton responded with 204 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
"It was just our speed," Slaton said at the time. "They couldn't match up with us."
Apparently, there are other ways to win football games, and there are other conferences who can win them, too.
That victory meant a reevaluation of the recruiting landscape. Louisville started the new trend when they secured commitments from local stars Michael Bush and Brian Brohm. Michael Bush has moved on to the NFL and Brian Brohm is a leading Heisman Trophy candidate for the upcoming season. They've shown that it's not Miami or bust.
Louisville was, arguably, a basketball school," said Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly. "But with guys like Brian Brohm and Michael Bush sticking around, they've shown that you can stay home and still be successful."
Kelly, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt and Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt, all of whom coach teams in the middle of the pack in the Big East, say their recruiting efforts have been significantly more fruitful in the aftermath of West Virginia's win.
"If you would ask someone from California two years ago, they would say, 'Oh, that's a nice conference,'" Wannstedt said. "That probably was the turning point and the conference needs to give them credit."
Last season, again ahead of schedule, was the next giant leap forward for the Big East, with three teams finishing in the top 12 (No. 6 Louisville, No. 10 West Virginia, No. 12 Rutgers). Those teams, as well as South Florida and Cincinnati, won their bowl games, marking the second time since the BCS began that one of the "Big Six" conferences went undefeated in a bowl season. The non-conference winning percentage of .800 was the highest in conference history.
Not to mention the emotional connection to a team like Rutgers, rising from irrelevance to national stardom, commanding the attention of national media. The aura of the team directly correlates to the perception of the conference.
Which directly correlates to that exciting evening about a year and a half ago.
"A lot of people are excited about what we did," said Rutgers defensive tackle Eric Foster. "We gave New Jersey life, and we use that as motivation because there were times when (the conference) was at rock bottom.
"I remember watching that (Sugar Bowl) game, rooting for those guys, because it's a snowball effect. It doesn't matter if it's the SEC or ACC, we've proven we can play."
And what about Rodriguez, who orchestrated the victory that set this sequence of events in motion?
He's thrilled about all this, of course, but downplays his excitement. There's still a long way to go, especially since it appears his team will be in the hunt for a national championship. But he'll take the victories along the way.
"I guess the glass is more than half full now," Rodriguez said.
