The views from here:

And the national headline from that poll was this: No Big East teams included.

I realize, as I'm sure you do, it's no big deal. I realize, as I'm sure you do, it's subjective.

But I also realize, as I hope you do, it's dumb.

The voters - especially if they are coaches - should understand that a Big East team will appear in the final Top 25 poll. It's as sure as crumbs in your toaster.

To a degree, I understand. I'll again serve as West Virginia's voter in the Associated Press Top 25 balloting and have already submitted my preseason picks. On paper, no Big East team looks to be a slam-dunk to win the league.

But since conference football began in 1991, there's never been a final coaches' poll without a Big East team. Ever. Yes, it's consistently viewed as the sixth of the six Bowl Championship Series leagues. But the Big East is 18-for-18.

The kicker? The league's top finisher in that span has an average ranking of No. 8.

Pick that apart if you wish. Miami and Virginia Tech, now ACC members, certainly helped with the average. But in three of the last four seasons, a Big East team has finished No. 10 or higher. (Yes, all of those rankings - No. 6, No. 10 and No. 6 - belonged to WVU.)

Heck, in 2007, six of the eight Big East teams were ranked at one point.

So it's silly not to pick at least one or two league teams and slot them at respectable positions. History tells us so.

A shocker I know, but I respectfully disagree. To a degree. (No, I did not vote on the poll.) Pittsburgh, you might have read, was selected to finish first. WVU was slotted second, with Cincinnati

and South Florida third and fourth, respectively.

In preseason magazines, you'll find Cincinnati and Rutgers picked to win the league crown. And any of those scenarios could come true. Rutgers and Pitt have the most favorable Big East schedules. Cincy has sharp coach Brian Kelly and a potent offense.

And the national headline from that poll was this: No Big East teams included.

I realize, as I'm sure you do, it's no big deal. I realize, as I'm sure you do, it's subjective.

But I also realize, as I hope you do, it's dumb.

The voters - especially if they are coaches - should understand that a Big East team will appear in the final Top 25 poll. It's as sure as crumbs in your toaster.

To a degree, I understand. I'll again serve as West Virginia's voter in the Associated Press Top 25 balloting and have already submitted my preseason picks. On paper, no Big East team looks to be a slam-dunk to win the league.

But since conference football began in 1991, there's never been a final coaches' poll without a Big East team. Ever. Yes, it's consistently viewed as the sixth of the six Bowl Championship Series leagues. But the Big East is 18-for-18.

The kicker? The league's top finisher in that span has an average ranking of No. 8.

Pick that apart if you wish. Miami and Virginia Tech, now ACC members, certainly helped with the average. But in three of the last four seasons, a Big East team has finished No. 10 or higher. (Yes, all of those rankings - No. 6, No. 10 and No. 6 - belonged to WVU.)

Heck, in 2007, six of the eight Big East teams were ranked at one point.

So it's silly not to pick at least one or two league teams and slot them at respectable positions. History tells us so.

A shocker I know, but I respectfully disagree. To a degree. (No, I did not vote on the poll.) Pittsburgh, you might have read, was selected to finish first. WVU was slotted second, with Cincinnati

and South Florida third and fourth, respectively.

In preseason magazines, you'll find Cincinnati and Rutgers picked to win the league crown. And any of those scenarios could come true. Rutgers and Pitt have the most favorable Big East schedules. Cincy has sharp coach Brian Kelly and a potent offense.

But across the board, no team has the talent of West Virginia. None.

If you were to simply rank the talent within the Big East this coming season (which I have done), WVU has 14 players you'd have to include in your top-three league teams. You'd have to find spots for Noel Devine, Selvish Capers, Chris Neild, Reed Williams, Jock Sanders, Don Barclay, Scooter Berry, Sidney Glover, Jarrett Brown, Alric Arnett, Tyler Urban, Josh Jenkins, Brandon Hogan and J.T. Thomas. Any arguments there?

After that, one goes to Pitt (12), then South Florida (10) and Connecticut (nine). Rutgers (eight) and Cincinnati (seven) follow in that order.

Of course, talent alone is not enough. The Mountain State is waiting to see if Bill Stewart can guide that talent. There are skeptics here and nationwide. The schedules also come into play. Unfortunately in the Big East, some teams play four league games at home and three away. Some play three at home and four away. This season, WVU has but three at home.

Then there's always the health issue.

Based on talent, though, the Mountaineers should contend, if not win, another title.

The man has taken stands.

First, probably with the help of former commissioner Mike Tranghese, the league told the Gator Bowl it wanted to kick its hybrid deal with the Sun Bowl to the curb.

Marinatto, however, took it a step beyond. To show his league would not be disrespected, he pointed the following comment at Gator president Rick Catlett and company:

"If we have to go somewhere else, so be it.''

On top of that, Marinatto struck a blow for league fans that have long sought a cutback of Notre Dame's involvement in the Big East's bowl setup.

Instead of allowing bowl partners to take the Fighting Irish over league teams twice in four years, he's insisting that may happen but once.

No, it might not satisfy the hard-core Big East fans that believe Notre Dame should join or take a hike.

Those are, however, noteworthy stands.

Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.