Morgantown firefighters in pregame blitz

Morgantown firefighters in pregame blitz
Residents ordered to stow old furniture in effort to prevent another arson spree
Wednesday, September 28, 2005

By Milan Simonich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Firefighters in Morgantown, W.Va., issued 500 special orders this week, all aimed at stopping arsons before they start.

Drunks, dunces and football fanatics set more than 140 street fires two years ago, after West Virginia University's team upset Virginia Tech in a nationally televised Wednesday night game.

The teams, both undefeated, play again at noon Saturday at Mountaineer Field. Morgantown Fire Chief Dave Fetty said another upset of third-ranked Virginia Tech would be fine by him, but he does not want a repeat of WVU rowdies torching couches and chairs as part of a victory celebration.

Fetty has sent "abatement orders" to residents of the Sunnyside section of town, where most of the trouble occurred after the Mountaineers defeated Virginia Tech 28-7 in 2003. Residents must remove any indoor furniture that has been placed outside.

Those who do not comply face the prospect of city crews hauling away the furniture, starting Friday morning. Violators also will receive citations calling for fines of up to $1,000 for failing to remove a fire hazard.

But the long West Virginia tradition of allowing fans to leave the stadium at halftime -- during which many drink alcohol in parking lots -- will not be changed for the Virginia Tech game. Those who exit at the half will receive re-entry tickets, said Ken Gray, WVU's vice president for student affairs.


College Football Notebook: Big East bust
Louisville's defeat hurt conference as much as it damaged Cardinals
Wednesday, September 28, 2005

By Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez knows what Louisville is going through this week. It was only a year ago that the Mountaineers were tabbed preseason favorites to win the Big East Conference and possibly contend for a national championship.

Those plans were ruined early in October when the Mountaineers lost to Virginia Tech in Week 5. They ended the season with an 8-4 record, 4-2 in the conference and out of the BCS loop.

Louisville had similar expectations this season. The Cardinals had a weak non-conference schedule and were deemed the class of the Big East. They were ranked ninth in The Associated Press poll heading into their game Saturday at South Florida.

And then the bottom dropped out on them and their season.

South Florida romped, 45-14, and likely ended Louisville's and the Big East's hopes for a national championship this season. The loss also cast doubt upon the Big East race. It was supposed to be the Cardinals in a runaway. Now it seems like any of the eight teams have a shot.

"A lot of times the media puts a label on a team," Rodriguez said. "And I understand why they do that. But there are a lot of teams in the Big East carrying that mantle and feel that responsibility and we're one of them. It goes to show what can happen. This league will be a lot more competitive from top to bottom than a lot of people thought. There's a lot of good football yet to be played."

So who's the favorite now? South Florida, a team that lost to Penn State by 10 in the opening week of the season? A West Virginia team that barely squeaked past East Carolina Saturday at home? A Pitt team that is 1-3 with its only victory coming against Division I-AA Youngstown State?

"The other seven teams are sitting there thinking there is some vulnerability there," Cincinnati coach Mark Dantonio said. "They have chinks in their armor just like everyone else."

Louisville's loss might make for a more interesting season in the Big East. But make no mistake, the Cardinals' defeat was bad for the conference. The Big East, searching for credibility in the wake of losing Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College to the Atlantic Coast Conference, was pinning its hopes on Louisville to remain a contender all season. They sure weren't expecting the torch bearer to lose by 31 to a program that five years ago was playing in Division I-AA.

Three Legendary Programs Off to Great Starts
By npoc

There seems to be a wide ranging notion that in the world of professional sports, that leagues need teams in New York and Los Angeles to be successful. Sometimes it is important sometimes it really does not matter. But when it comes to college football its real special to see teams like Nebraska, Penn State and Alabama having success.
Maybe this piece is a little bit premature as the first tests of the season still await all these teams but at 3-0, 4-0 and 4-0 respectively Nebraska, Penn State and Alabama have awakened memories of the mid 1990's when they ruled the college football landscape.

Dave Dickey stays for the entire ECU slop fest and he is rewarded with no ticket for Saturdays Virginia Tech game
DA Sports:Ultimate Birthday Wishlist by npoc

-n