Big East Notebook - College Football News

Big East Notebook
By Calvin Watkins
Posted: 3:30 am PDT 2006-09-08

This was supposed to be Michael Bush's season.

And it was for a night.

Bush, the Louisville running back, underwent successful surgery on Monday to repair a broken right leg, suffered in the season opening victory over Kentucky. Bush, a Heisman Trophy and Doak Walker Award candidate, rushed for 128-yards and three touchdowns before his injury early in the second half.

Bush had a titanium rod placed in his tibia from below the knee to the ankle area.

Bush's NFL prospects are uncertain, but financially he's secure for now. The Bush family purchased a $2 million injury protection policy from Lloyd's of London that covers career-ending injuries, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

He also has an opportunity to redshirt, but coach Bobby Petrino said it was up to the Bush family to make that decision.

Bush bypassed the NFL to remain in college to give his team one more shot at a Big East title and a possible BCS bowl berth.

The big question surrounding the Cardinals is Bush's replacement.

Kolby Smith, George Stripling and Anthony Allen are the possible candidates. All have different styles and could give opposing defenses difficulty in terms of scouting.

"I look at it as an opportunity," Smith said to reporters. "I know I have to do everything that I can to help the team win. The coaches said Stripling and I had to carry the team."

Pittsburgh: Maybe this year the fans in Pittsburgh will leave Dave Wannstedt alone. The Panthers finished 5-6 last season, in a year where expectations were high. Well, Wannstedt won the season opener, 38-13, over Virginia last week. The Panthers avenged a 2003 loss to Virginia, 23-16, in the Continental Tire Bowl. If Pittsburgh defeats Cincinnati on Friday night (WagerWeb.com line: Pittsburgh - 7.5), it could make people forget about last season and, more importantly, give Wannstedt a 2-0 start.

Syracuse: Offense is a concern this week for Syracuse as it faces No. 14 Iowa (Hawkeyes -18.5 on WagerWeb.com). The Orangemen gained only 141 yards in total offense in last week's loss to Wake Forest. Quarterback Perry Patterson has to perform better. He completed just six of 19 passes for 45-yards and one touchdown. And that was against Wake Forest. What do you expect him to do this week against a ranked opponent, who many believe will contend for the BCS championship game? Syracuse coach Greg Robinson is hopeful that the second-half problems endured by Patterson (he went 1-for-5 with no passing yards) are solved.

South Florida: The Bulls host Florida International (WagerWeb.com line: USF -20) on Saturday, and it should be very interesting. Florida International is one of two Division I-A programs younger than South Florida. Last season's youth might have led to a three-game slide to end the 2005 season for South Florida. That losing streak ended in the season opening victory against I-AA opponent McNeese State.

West Virginia: The best running back-quarterback combo in the country is here with Steve Slaton and Pat White. The sophomores combined for 431 yards in a season opening victory over Marshall. Expect the duo to handle the ball again plenty this week against Eastern Washington (no line on WagerWeb.com). Slaton, a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy but my favorite for the Doak Walker Award, rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns in the Sugar Bowl victory last season against Georgia. Slaton is trying to become the first running back to gain 200 yards in three consecutive games in school history.

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