European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday August 22, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 21 College football 91 East bursts Bonds of geography by Alan Robinson the associated press Pittsburgh a geography does no to mean much anymore in Eastern College football. Look at the Brand new map of Eastern football and you la see amazing changes in latitude and attitude. Changes like these a Penn state is moving to the Midwest where it will begin big ten Competition in 1993. A Miami which would be floating in the Caribbean if if were any deeper East preview South is now a member of the Northern dominated big East. Although members of the new football league wont play a full schedule until 1993, the conference will Crown a Champion this season based on National ranking. A Virginia tech where Southern drawls begin and Eastern influence traditionally ends has also joined the big East. Thanks no amp try to Penn state coach Joe Paterno and big East commissioner Mike Tranghese the face of Eastern football has been changed forever. And that a Fine with West Virginia coach Don Nehlen. Nehlen is thrilled that his mountaineers Are part of the big East along with Miami Pitt Syracuse Boston College Rutgers Temple and Virginia tech. He says a regional to network the big East a marketing skills and a new bowl Alliance will guarantee a High profile for the new league. A you give us five years and i think we will have the same Impact As the Southeast the Pac-10 and the big ten a Nehlen said. A these schools Are All great schools and there is an awful lot of before Penn state bolts the East a can Wisconsin and Purdue Ever replace West Virginia and Pitt in the hearts and minds of Kittany lion fans a there a the matter of the 1991 season to Deal with. And suddenly there Arentt so Many changes in Eastern football. Penn state and Miami again could be top five teams while West Virginia and Pitt face massive rebuilding jobs. Temple Hopes to continue its remarkable turnaround and Syracuse Hopes to adjust to life without Dick Macpherson who left to become coach of the new England patriots. The More things change at Penn state the More they stay the same Paterno has vowed to remain As coach at least until the Lions play their first season in the big ten. That Means the same predictable offence the same colourless uniforms. And the same old National title contender despite a challenging schedule that includes Georgia tech Miami by Southern Cal and notre Dame. Tony Sacca is Back at quarterback but longtime backup Tom Bill is gone. Which Means Sacca have to look Over his shoulder As often at Beaver stadium which has added 10,000 seats. A a that a probably 10,000 More people booing at me a said Sacca whose winning percentage is about twice As High As his 43 percent completion rate. Miami plays just two big East games Boston College and West Virginia which must be a Relief to the rest of the league. A i think everyone else will work hard to close the Gap with Miami a first year Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said. Good Luck. The hurricanes 10-2 last season have finished in the top three every year since 1986. Coach Dennis Erickson still Hasni to decided on his starting quarterback and just four starters return on offence but the defense looks Strong and Steve Mcguire might be Miami a Best runner in years. Syracuse does no to have Macpherson but the orangemen do have eight starters Back on defense from a 7-4-2 team that Defeated Arizona 28-0 in the Aloha bowl. The offence revolves around Quad Syracuse University Stephen Parker Syracuse a Martin Graves left dominates the East a air Miami a Steve Mcguire the ground. Ape Terback Martin Graves who passed for 1,711 Yards and 14 touchdowns As a freshman. Pittsburgh has problems. Eight projected starters have departed since last fall due to academics suspensions or in the Case of Star offensive tackle Mike Livorio a positive Mcaa steroids test. The panthers have so Many holes to fill that even a talented freshman class and the return of standout quarterback Alex Van Pelt and linebacker Ricardo Mcdonald might not be enough to improve on last years 3-7-1 disaster under first year coach Paul Hackett. West Virginia a 4-7 season was t much better than Pitts and the two teams can compare notes aug. 31 when they play the big East a first nationally televised game. Nehlen Only Hopes the season Isnit As painful As Spring practice when eight of the top nine returnees on defense were Hurt. Temples turnaround from i-10 to 7-4 was Best in the country lust year. Fourteen starters return but the owls could be Over matched Early with games at Alabama and , Irish to Settle Midwest Early by Joe Mooshil the associated press Chicago a Michigan coach Gary Moeller noticed a lot of people wearing a championship rings at a recent big ten football gathering. The reason Michigan Iowa Michigan state and Illinois finished in an unprecedented four Way tie for the title last year. A i done to want to share the rings this year a Moeller said. He May not have to because Michigan is expected to win the big ten outright. He May even wind up wearing another ring a one for a National championship. A if there a a team that has an Opportunity to win the National championship its Michigan this year a Moeller said alluding to the Tough schedule. In addition to a big ten slate that includes everyone except Northwestern Michigan opens the season against Boston College and then catches notre Dame and Florida state on successive saturdays. A Florida state is among those favored to win the National title and notre Dame is always a threat. No big ten team has won the National title since Ohio state in 1968. Notre Dame has carried the Standard for the Midwest recently winning in 1973, �?T77 and �?�88. If its a race Between notre Dame and Michigan it will be settled Early. The teams meet in Ann Arbor on sept. 14. Last year notre Dame won 28-24 to make it four straight Over Michigan. A a we re getting a Little tired of that a Moeller said. The wolverines in their second year under Moeller who succeeded to Schembechler could have an explosive offence. Elvis Grbac is Back at quarterback and has outstanding receivers in Derrick Alexander and Des to Midwest preview mond Howard. Ricky Powers will be at tailback. Defense could be a problem if anything happens tackle Chris Hutchinson who has had Back problems. The a a rocket is gone. So Are defensive standouts Chris Zorich Michael Stonebreaker and Todd Lyght. But notre Dame will remain formidable. Coach Lou Holtz Speaks two ways. A your losses Are of Gigantic proportions a he said. A when you look at it on paper it looks like its going to be a Long rebuilding at the same time Holtz said a we Are not Content at All coming off a 9-3 year. Its time to take it to another level. We expect to have a very Good twelve regulars Are returning. The offence will be built around quarterback Rick Mirer and tailback Rodney Culver. Tackle George Williams and linebackers Devon Mcdonald and Demetrius Dubose Are among the defensive stalwarts. Who can catch Michigan in the big ten try Iowa Michigan state or Ohio state. Or maybe Illinois Indiana or Minnesota. It wont be Northwestern Purdue or Wisconsin. Iowa a Hayden Fry has 16 starters returning. They include ail big ten quarterback Matt Rodgers. Rodgers passed for 2,228 Yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Quot the race will be similar to last year with the tiebreaker being the team that is the Healthiest a said Michigan states George Perles. When flanker Courtney Hawkins was injured last year the spartans struggled. Hawkins is Back and healthy. Still not certain is who will succeed Dan Enos at quarterback. But Tico Duckett the nations leading rusher with 1,394 Yards is Back. As usual the spartans will be Tough on defense. And defense seems to be the Strong Point for most teams in the big ten this season. At Ohio state John Cooper says he has his Best defensive team. A if we stay healthy we have a Chance to be a very Good football returning Are seven defensive starters including All big ten linebacker Steve Tovar. Fullback Scottie Graham will be a Force on offence. Illinois coach John Mackovic has a rebuilding Job. The Zillini lost 15 starters including nine off a great defensive unit. Mackovic will rebuild the defense around safety Marlon Primous and the offence around quarterback Jason Verduzco. At Indiana Bill Mallory has 18 starters returning including tailback Vaughn Dunbar and quarterback Trent Green. Dunbar rushed for 1,224 Yards and 13 touchdowns last year. Minnesota finished with a 5-3 big ten record which included a closing Victory Over Iowa. Yet some say Minnesota could be the Surprise team. A i done to know if Surprise me a said coach John Gutenkunst who has 16 starters returning with the defensive unit almost intact. Last year Northwestern beat Wisconsin Purdue beat Northwestern and Wisconsin beat no one in the conference and finished in the cellar Purdue has a new coach in Jim l Doletto. Northwestern has some fifth year seniors for a change and Wisconsin will have a Tough defense but the three again will be battling to stay out of last place
