Expansion news (where I actually defend Gene) and other links

Former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese and his hand-picked successor John Marinatto have been ranting about the latest round of conference expansion to anyone who will listen. As always they're overly reactionary, emotionally, and parochial in their perspective on basketball. For most BC fans this drudged up a lot of memories about our old conference and our unpleasant departure. I think the Big East was important in the landscape of college sports and important for BC. But it was never as important as anyone from the Big East thinks it was. And the fact that it still draws its leadership from Providence College basketball cronies shows how limited their perspective is...on everything. The reality of alliance was that it could never be sustained on basketball alone. That is why they added Miami first. That first expansion should have been the writing on the wall of the basketball schools. If they wanted to have a future, they should have started major football then. UConn did. Others did not an have been paying the price every since. They can take all the pot shots they want at Gene, but he did the right and smart things by moving us to the ACC. And I hope tons of BC fans show up at the first ACC Tourney game at MSG!

This article takes down Tranghese's nonsensical rant on WFAN.

The Big East is saying the will keep Syracuse and Pitt for 27 more months. I doubt it comes to that. The Big East will have to find a solution for their other schools soon and therefore won't need or want to hold onto the defectors.

In recruiting news, BC lost out on Canaan Severin. He's headed to UVA to play for Mike London. I don't get too caught up in recruiting rankings but it is disheartening to see how many local prospects we missed out on this year.

Severin nearing decision and other links

Canaan Severin, Massachusetts' top player and one of BC's top targets is nearing a decision. It doesn't sound too promising but maybe there is hope BC can sell him hard this weekend.

Duke's backup QB is injured.

A new mental approach has made all the difference with Charlie Davies' productivity.

Damien Woody plans to lose more than 100 pounds now that he is retired from football.

This CT QB has a BC offer based on his work at BC's camp.

Selling Severin and other links

BC has been involved with Canaan Severin early on and now other schools are lining up. He's one of the top prospects on our list and one of the top prospects in New England. Canaan says he wants to make a decision this summer and puts UConn and BC above others. Let's hope the staff can close him out and build on the recent recruiting momentum.

Although many BC names are being rumored for the BU job, it looks like Richard Pitino (Rick's son) is the front runner for the opening. I think a solid BU program is good for BC and Boston. I also think they will make a big mistake with Pitino who will bolt at the first chance rather than a Boston guy who will want to stay and build something at BU.

Phil Steele has a bunch of metrics that he relies on. One is returning yards and another is returning tackles. BC is top 5 in one and top 50 in the other. I am not expecting miracles this year, but we cannot let expectations be lowered either. There are many positive indicators.

Luke Kuechly is ranked 29th in CBS's ranking of college players.

Derrick Rossy is looking to make a career out of boxing.