43rd_Parallel: If you had to predict today, how will the Big East fill its bowl lineup this season? I realize league play is just getting under way and it's all speculative, but we know more than we did a month ago. Thanks

Chuck Finder: Methinks this questions was intended, if not already answered, by my esteemed colleague, Mr. Paul Zeise, in Tampa tonight covering Pitt-USF. But i'll tackle it as well. In the words of Steve Kragthorpe, this baby's wiiiiiide open. With Connecticut losing Tyler Lorenzen and Cincinnati losing its third quarterback in a month (counting Ben Mauk's court battles), the Big East chase is more unpredictable than the Pirates' pierogi race. Louisville didn't look so hot and still nearly beat UConn last week. Pitt and WVU seem to have their acts together, to some degree. Right now, before Pitt plays USF (and if George Selvie doesn't play, one good -- a.k.a. 13-9 -- night from the Pitt defense, and the Panthers could conceivably win), the Bulls are the favorite, if not prohibitively. But it's way early. And, who knows, UConn behind defense and running, that recipe to success, could tie for the league championship or even secure the BCS bid this time around. Like Kraggie said, wiiide open.

Charleston_Charlies: How's Pat White's hand?

Chuck Finder: It's OK. Could be better, but he can play with a little pain. He practiced, took snaps and threw with it both Sunday and Tuesday that I know of, probably Wednesday, too. Actually, what seemed to bother him this week more was a cold/virus. He's a tough, resilient sucker. I would expect him to play. He's still hacked he missed the Rutgers game in 2005 when Jarrett Brown won in triple OT. And that Rutgers defense must look inviting, too.

Charleston_Charlies: Coach Stew's use of Brown good or bad?

Chuck Finder: Well, CC, i can remember the Eastern Washington coach two years ago after the 2005 season opener saying that the Brown kid should play more often, and Paul Wulff wound up at Washington State, so he must know a little something about D-I talent. JB is too talented to sit, and Patrick White is too valuable to expose to further injury (remember, their only two losses last year where when he was hurt). Besides, ECU and Colorado showed that the offense cannot live with White and Devine alone. Get White uncovered/alone in space for a pitch or pass, get Brown running (when there's a spy already on White) or get Sanders/Arnett/Jalloh/Gonzales/Johnson/ANYBODY more involved, and that should pry open defenses. Besides, the kid is big and tough, so it's hard to imagine Brown getting seriously hurt (and thus exposing Bradley Starks or even Coley White as backups). But if JB's going to be your starting quarterback next year, shake off the rust and let him show what he can do with the complete o

Charleston_Charlies: Can Sanders hold on to the ball?

Chuck Finder: For a seck, i thought that was a Rashard Mendenhall question meant for America's Best Pro Football Writer, Ed Bouchette. The ECU fumble by Sanders wasn't a great one. The double-reverse, dual-tandem, Butch-and-Sundance play that went from Brown to White to Sanders didn't strike me as Jock's fault -- if memory serves, there was penetration and a rush that helped to foil that. But such trickery is often prone to turnovers. Besides, maybe that play should have gone to somebody with a different surname: Brown to White to....WVU needs to recruit a Blue or a Redd or a Gray.

Michele: Do you think Terrence Kerns will see the field at all this year?

Chuck Finder: Seeing the field isn't his dilemma, apparently. The problem isn't an E C G H eyechart, but A B C D grades. Although the other night, running backs coach Chris Beatty had some sharp criticism about Kerns being too muscular. Kerns is a stout, cut young fellow. Sometimes, a player can fall in love with the weight room too much (not to mention hurting his academics) and become too much of a Mr. Universe rather than a Mr. Flexible, especially at a position like running back. But, without being a kinesiologist or medical expert, i'm not exactly sure how someone gets un-cut and reverts those muscles into flexible, toned, quick-twitch babies. You in the health field, Michele? If so, any suggestions for him?

Charleston_Charlies: How will our Dbacks fair against Rutgers WRs?

Chuck Finder: You know, the remodeled secondary -- with Sands at safety and Hogan at corner (not to take away from the defensive story i'm writing for tomorrow's paper, in a shameless plug) -- kept the then-NCAA leader 70 yards below his average on Saturday. Darius Passmore, and i just love that name for a receiver, came into Mountaineer Field averaging about 118 receiving yards per game, and WVU's secondary made him work for what little he garnered: 39 yards on four catches. So that's a passing grade, no Kerns pun intended. Hogan has played cornerback for almost two months now. Same for Sands and college safety. Imagine what they can do when they mature. Lankster looks better and better each week, by all accounts. So now the old head of the group, Quinton Andrews, may be the weakest link. Still some wonder about the nickelback situation. And, long answer short, Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood are dangerous -- the best tandem in the Big East, and among the best nationally.

Michele: Actually, I'm an RN and say get him to a yoga class. The easy A might not hurt the GPA either.

Chuck Finder: Michele, you ever wanna be an Athletic Director? There are probably 1.9 million, at least, who like the way you think.... Yoga. Brilliant. Heck, i might sign up for such a class.

Charleston_Charlies: Are the Defensive backs ready to handle and experienced QB and deep threat WR?

Chuck Finder: If you mean Mike Teel, i tried to answer that above: Most definitely, they're ready for the way (mediocre at best) Teel is playing right now. If it's the Teel of 2005, they could be in for a long day. We'll find out Saturday, but i'm guessing Rutgers -- which struggled outside of Ray Rice last October against WVU, and a lot of others -- still won't get its groove back this week. Still and all, Lankster, Hogan and the fellas are in for an interesting day with Britt and Underwood. Passmore is one thing, but these guys are appreciably better. I'm guessing they'll give up a long play or two, but the offense should be able to balance that out against Rutgers' defense.

Charleston_Charlies: How has Coach Stew addressed Andrews personal fouls?

Chuck Finder: By throwing Charles Pugh off the team! Sorry, i couldn't resist...now there was a guy who was a personal foul waiting to happen, once even from the sidelines. Andrews claimed to be matured and all grown up when the season started. The next time he commits one, then we'll get a good look at how much of an on-field disciplinarian Stew is. It's one thing to make fellas run steps and other such penalties, but when you remove the one thing a kid cherishes most -- playing time, especially in front of the home crowd -- that is what resonates and teaches best.

Charleston_Charlies: I remember something when the Marshall series was announced something about the winner of 3 out of 5 get the additional home game. Do you remember the specifics of the arrangement?

Chuck Finder: Without benefit of looking it up quickly, methinks this year's home game was the one that WVU won by taking the first two contests. After this, it's basically a two-for-one, with Marshall getting just one more home game. Or somethin' like that.

Chuck Finder: CC, i just tried to look it up quickly. It seems to be 3 more WVU home games (2009, 2011 and 2012) with the 2010 Frontyard Brawl in Huntington being the one Marshall home game left in the seven-year series. Stewart likes the idea of the series, but we shall see what happens with it in the next few years.

Michele: Have you heard anything on the rumors of VTmaking an offer for Chris Beatty after the season?

Chuck Finder: It's AWFULLY early to be talking jobs. My experience is, where there's smoke... First of all, his Virginia/Hampton Roads connections make sense. But will there be any Va Tech openings through which to slide in a new coach? The best preventive medicine is to pay him well (they're already doing that), try to make him feel valued and win. As for you fans, take two aspirin and worry about such things in the postseason, until movement commences.

Chuck Finder: All righty then, thanks for the queries on this Big East-opening week for WVU. Undoubtedly, you'll have millions upon millions of questions next week for that titanic Syracuse struggle ... See ya next week.