It wasn't long ago that the Big East was being ridiculed as the Big Least and the conference's coaches were regularly forced to defend the quality of play in the nascent league.

No longer.

Start with defending national champion Miami, whose fall from national prominence in the mid-90s created a drag for the entire conference. The Hurricanes, arguably the best team in college football for each of the past two seasons, have bounced back and so has the league.

	Around The Big East
	Boston College Eagles
	Miami Hurricanes
	Pittsburgh Panthers
	Rutgers Scarlet Knights
	Syracuse Orangemen
	Temple Owls
	Virginia Tech Hokies
	West Virginia Mountaineers

Winners of 22 consecutive games, the Hurricanes open the season ranked No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll. That means the 2002 national champion will have to come through Miami and the Big East.

But the conference's new-found credibility isn't all about the Hurricanes.

The Big East posted a 4-1 record during the 2001 bowl season, best nationally among leagues competing in the BCS.

Overall, Big East teams have registered an 8-2 mark and .800 winning percentage in bowl play over the past two seasons. The numbers top those compiled by the SEC (9-8, .529), Pac-10 (5-5, .500), Big 12 (7-8, .467), ACC (5-6, .455) and Big Ten (4-8, .333).

There's little reason to believe that trend will not continue.

Miami, of course, will be Miami. Sure, the Hurricanes lost five first-rounders and 11 overall NFL draft picks from their perfect 2001 team, but the national champions aren't exactly short on talent.

The Hurricanes return nine players who were either first- or second-team All-Big East selections last season, including quarterback Ken Dorsey, the conference's co-offensive player of the year.

If Miami is a no-brainer as conference favorite, the order of teams immediately following the Hurricanes isn't as clear.

Virginia Tech, Boston College and Pittsburgh should finish anywhere from second to fourth place in the Big East, although the exact order is anybody's call.

There are plenty of interesting questions in Blacksburg, Va., where coach Frank Beamer will have to choose a starting running back between sophomore Kevin Jones, the 2001 Big East Rookie of the Year, and senior Lee Suggs, the conference's top offensive player in 2000. Suggs is returning from knee surgery that cost him nearly all of last season.

The Hokies also have a dilemma at quarterback where last year's starter, Grant Noel, will try to play with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament sustained during spring practice. If Noel breaks down, it could open the door for freshman Marcus Vick, whose brother Michael put Blacksburg on the college football map.

Looking for a darkhorse to knock off Miami? Try Boston College, which returns 19 starters. That includes Brian St. Pierre, the best quarterback in the Big East not named Dorsey.

The Big Least? With another season like the last two, the Big Beast may be more appropriate.

Game of the Year
It's not a conference showdown, but Miami's visit to Florida on Sept. 7 is certainly one of the most important and interesting games involving a Big East team this season. The Hurricanes and Gators haven't played in the regular season since the rivalry came to an abrupt and bitter halt in 1987. The season's best conference game also involves the Hurricanes, who host Virginia Tech in the regular-season finale on Dec. 7.

Offensive Player of the Year
Ken Dorsey, Miami. Who were you expecting, Ryan Cubit? Others may have better statistics or stronger arms, but the Miami senior quarterback has something nobody else in college football can match -- a 26-1 record as a starter over the past two-plus seasons. Sure, Miami lost several offensive stars to the NFL, but the same thing happened a year ago and Dorsey hardly missed a beat. Dorsey, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, is that rare player who makes everyone around him better.

Defensive Player of the Year
Many thought William Joseph would leave Miami for the NFL after a breakthrough junior season in which the 6-5, 297-pound defensive tackle finished with 10 sacks, 17 quarterback hurries and 19 tackles for losses. But he's back to wreak havoc on the Big East. Joseph was particularly good when Miami needed him most, registering six sacks in the final four regular-season games against Boston College, Syracuse, Washington and Virginia Tech. In the Rose Bowl against Nebraska, Joseph came up big again with six tackles, three for lost yardage, and a fumble recovery.

Jorge Milian covers the Big East for the Palm Beach Post.