Big East notebook
Louisville giving Heisman candidates equal billing on campaign Web site Louisville’s two hometown stars have equal billing in a Heisman Trophy campaign that includes its own Web site, www.derbycityduo.com, set up by the school’s sports information department.
With a click of the mouse fans can find out everything from quarterback Brian Brohm’s major (it’s finance) to running back Michael Bush’s birthday (June 16, 1984). There are stats, pictures and video galore.
The site is painstakingly divided evenly so one candidate doesn’t appear to be favored over the other.
“It looks pretty even,” said Brohm with a laugh. “It was pretty nice for them to do that for us.”
Both he and Bush say performance not marketing will determine whether either picks up any postseason hardware.
“Definitely we’ve got to go out there and perform ourselves, and put up the numbers that we’re supposed to put up for the team to be successful,” said Brohm, the reigning Big East Offensive Player of the Year. “But the biggest thing is our team has to be successful for us to have any consideration for that trophy or to make it to New York.”
Bush was second in the nation in touchdowns last season with 24 and ran for 1,143 yards.
Brohm was the second highest rated passer in the country (166.7) though his season was cut short by a knee injury. He passed for 2,883 yards.
Pitt’s kickers
Pittsburgh will have no place-kicker on scholarship when it kicks off its season Saturday night against Virginia.
Senior kicker David Abdul’s college career ended when he did not receive medical clearance after undergoing a heart valve operation in June.
Neither of Pitt’s two remaining kickers, sophomore Conor Lee nor freshman Dan Hutchins, will be given a scholarship until at least January, coach Dave Wannstedt said.
Punter Adam Graessle also is in the running to handle some of the place kicking duties.
Born mascot
Brady Campbell has been preparing for his role as the West Virginia mascot for most of his life.
“I grew a goatee in the eighth grade and ever since then people have been telling me I should be the Mountaineer mascot,” said Campbell, who dons a buckskin suit and carries a rifle when cheering on WVU.
Campbell, whose parents and grandfather also attended WVU, said he’s proud to embody a family tradition by donning the mascot uniform and attending the same school they did.
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Associated Press writers Alan Robinson in Pittsburgh, Will Graves in Louisville, Ky., and Shaya Tayefe Mohajer in Charleston, W.Va., contributed to this report.