I used to do surgery, on girls in the '80s. But gravity always wins. So now I stick to mailbags: Andrew from California writes: The Yankee, I mean Pinstripe, Bowl will place the No. 4 Big East team against the Big 12 No. 7. Here are what the matchups would have been over the past years: 2005 -- USF (6-5) vs Missouri (6-5); 2006 -- USF (8-4) or Cincinnati (7-5) vs Missouri (8-4); 2007 -- USF (9-3) or Rutgers (7-5) vs. Colorado (6-6); 2008 -- Rutgers (7-5) vs replacement. 2009: Rutgers (8-4) or UConn (7-5) vs. Iowa state (6-6). It's OK most years. We will see. Brian Bennett: Thanks for that research, Andrew. A couple of things to remember about the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, its official name now. While the matchups might not be sexy every year, this basically replaced the International Bowl in the Big East's lineup. And playing a Big 12 team, even a mediocre one, is much, much more interesting than facing the MAC in Toronto. Also, while it is officially listed as taking the No. 4 Big East team, we know that after the BCS game, there's no real slotting system. Bowls and leagues work to make the best fit in each game. You'd better believe that Rutgers, UConn and Syracuse will be pushed hard for that game every year in which they're eligible. And finally, there will be some years when the Big 12 doesn't have enough eligible teams to send one to this bowl. Notre Dame can then replace the Big 12 in that scenario. While lots of stars would have to align -- the Irish would have to be bad enough to miss the BCS and other big bowls but just good enough to make the postseason in the same year that the Big 12 comes up short -- a Big East vs. Notre Dame matchup in New York would certainly be enticing. T.J. from Cincinnati writes: Two-part question: 1. How many Big East teams deserve to be ranked in the preseason Top 25? Who? 2. How many Big East teams WILL be ranked in the preseason Top 25? Brian Bennett: I've said this before, but I believe as of right now, four Big East teams deserve to be ranked, all in the 15-to-25 range: Pitt, Cincinnati, West Virginia and UConn. I think, though, that only Pitt and Cincinnati will be ranked. UConn still lacks name recognition for national voters, and others may be scared off by West Virginia's quarterback situation or give too much weight to the Gator Bowl loss. Paul M. from Boston writes: With all this expansion talk, many people bring up schools that really do not bring much to the table. Since Temple is on probation for football, and they just had a bowl season, why not invite them to join the conference for all sports and give DePaul the boot? That combined with Villanova stepping up to Division I would give a great football and basketball rivalry in Philly. A third team could be Boston College, and now is the time to approach them about rejoining the Big East. They are doing bad in football and horrible in basketball in the ACC. Brian Bennett: I can't imagine two teams from the same city competing in Big East football, but that would be a lot of fun. Can you imagine the fight for recruits, not to mention attention and maybe even stadium dates? Works in Los Angeles, but I don't think this is the same situation at all. I wouldn't say BC is doing badly in football, because they have reached the ACC title game a couple of times. Clearly they're knocking heads in ACC basketball against some powers, but it wouldn't be any easier in the monstrous Big East for hoops. Boston College is the program that fits the league so perfectly as an expansion target, but who knows if it would be willing to come back. Not if there's no major financial incentive to do so. Jim from Pittsburgh writes: I for one, hate the singing of "Sweet Caroline." But, in its defense, the students suggested it to the PR department and they ran with it. It's really for the students, and that's what's important. They love it. The other fans -- I mean in a city that plays Styx Renegade as their go-to song to pump up the crowd, it is a mixed bag. It's hard to tell if the players get into it, as it is rather corny and waaaaay too long, but they do seem to respond to the way the crowd is pumped up after the song. Brian Bennett: Good times never seemed so good. I've been inclined to believe they never would. Mike L. from Hillsdale, N.J., writes: Being a Rutgers fan, I can safely say that we as whole want to join the Big Ten. The reasons though, outside of the obvious perk of more money, is that we're afraid of what will happen to the Big East if we don't go. Let's say, for example, that Pitt gets the invitation instead. Well there goes the auto-BCS bid straight into the hands of the Mountain West, assuming that they keep all of their teams. If Rutgers does go, however, it would be best for all parties involved. The Big Ten gets the NYC presence that they so desperately seem to want (Don't kid yourself, there is a Rutgers fan-base in New York that is only going to grow with more passionate RU alum graduating every year). Rutgers gets more money, a better recruiting pull and would most likely block Penn State from poaching Greg Schiano when the time comes. The Big East would not like losing Rutgers, but out of the teams that are in contention from the Big East, RU would easily be the most replaceable since we don't exactly have a long tradition of winning in almost anything. Brian Bennett: I agree with a lot of what you say, Mike. It's every school for itself when it comes to the expansion free-for-all. Big fish eat the little ones, as a band I'm somewhat fond of once said. I don't think it's necessarily gloom and doom for the Big East if only Rutgers leaves. The league would still have tradition rich schools like Syracuse, Pitt and West Virginia and several big TV markets. It would just have to add a quality replacement or two to keep things going. Jason from Spring Lake, N.J., writes: Drop Seton Hall, an original member? You are a total idiot who knows nothing about the Big East and its tradition, you red-headed dork. Brian Bennett: First of all, I don't have red hair. (Not that there's anything wrong with that; two of my best friends are self-proclaimed gingers). Second of all, who cares if Seton Hall was an original member? What matters is what the school is contributing now. We're talking about a program that hasn't been to the NCAA men's basketball tournament since 2006 and whose athletic department is in such disarray that it gave a lengthy contract extension to this guy despite a million red flags. The Pirates don't do much in any other sport, either; last year in the Directors' Cup standings -- which ranks teams based on the performance by all sports -- Seton Hall finished 270th, or one spot out of last place (and one spot behind Stony Brook). Look, I'm not on a campaign to bash Seton Hall. But if the Big East needs to get stronger by expansion, it's going to have to get rid of some dead weight in the process. And DePaul and Seton Hall are the first two schools who should get cast away. Sticking with an underperforming school solely because it was a founding member is a good way to get left high and dry when all the dust clears, and the Big East can't afford that kind of thinking.