Want to know how worried other Big East programs are about WVU? Glad you asked.
Let's just check Louisville (via Card Chronicle) because, you know, they have some experience with this.
We've touched briefly on the similarities between the Louisville football program's late 2006-2007 and the West Virginia football program's late 2007 up to the present, but given the events in Greenville last weekend, I think it's high time we take a look at the full checklist.
--Losing a shot at the national championship in an especially cruel and depressing fashion? Check.
--Still managing to win a Big East championship? Check.
--Victory in a BCS game? Check
--One of the most successful coaches in program history bolting for a more high-profile job? Yup.
--The manner in which the breakup occurs results in an extremely upset fan base? Oh yeah.
--A replacement is found almost disturbingly quickly? Check.
--Said replacement is a humble, soft-spoken guy who has undoubtedly referred to rap music as "crap" on multiple occasions? Uh-huh.
--Said replacement says all the right things during the offseason, and earns the adoration of the fan base by appearing like the perfect contrast to the former guy who's now perceived as untenably weasely? Check.
--The return of several starters, including a Heisman Trophy front-runner at quarterback, leads to a consensus top ten ranking and widespread talk of a national title? Check.
--The team is less than impressive in its season-opening throttling of an overmatched FCS squad, but the staggering final score overwhelms any and all of the concerns brought up in the ensuing days? I remember that.
--A horrendous performance in week two that leads to widespread panic among the fan base? Oh yeah.
--Positive chatter about the potential for Big East titles and BCS victories sprouting mid-week? Those were the days.
I think we need to win Thursday.