BIG EAST Hits The Road Saturday
Saturday’s BIG EAST ledger lists seven games, including six in which the BIG EAST team will be the visitor. Rutgers takes a 3-0 record to Fayetteville, Ark., to face Arkansas (7 p.m. ET, ESPNU), while unbeaten Louisville heads to Miami to face Florida International (7 p.m., ESPN3). Temple visits Penn State in an ABC-televised game at 3:30 p.m. Syracuse faces its second Big Ten opponent of the season with a visit to Minnesota (8 p.m., Big Ten Network), while Connecticut and USF hit the road to face Mid-American Conference opponents. The Huskies are at Western Michigan (2 p.m., ESPN3) and the Bulls visit Ball State (4:30 p.m., BIG EAST Network). The only BIG EAST home team Saturday will be Pittsburgh, which faces Gardner-Webb at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN3).
Connecticut’s Smallwood Making National News
Connecticut linebacker Yawin Smallwood is on his way toward becoming a household name in college football circles. Smallwood was named the national defensive player of the week by the Maxwell Football Club and the Football Writers Association of America following his performance in the Huskies’ 24-21 win at Maryland. Smallwood had 14 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble against the Terrapins. He stands as the national leader in tackles for loss (3.0 per game) and is seventh in sacks (1.3 per game) through three weeks of the season.
The Century Club
Rutgers running back Jawan Jamison has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of his last four games, beginning with last year’s New Era Pinstripe Bowl win against Iowa State. Syracuse wide receiver Marcus Sales likewise has turned in four straight games with at least 100 receiving yards. Sales, who did not play last season, also saw his streak start in the Pinstripe Bowl, when the Orange defeated Kansas State in 2010. Cincinnati has had a different player rush for at least 100 yards in each of the Bearcats’ last three games, dating to last season.
BIG EAST Players Honored For Off-Field Performance
Temple kicking specialist Brandon McManus and Rutgers safety Duron Harmon have been honored by national organizations for their contributions off the football field. McManus is one of 11 Bowl Subdivision players named to the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team, in recognition of his participation in 11 community service events during the 2011-12 academic year. Harmon, meanwhile, is one of 30 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, which recognize excellence in the classroom, character, community and competition.
