in Pitt Football 239 Words

It Had to Happen Sometime…

Panther Fans!

You can be Pitt’s winning edge when we host North Carolina next Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime. We want our team, and a national ESPN television audience, to see a great atmosphere at Heinz Field as the Panthers go for a third consecutive victory. As a small token of appreciation, we want to reward our loyal and passionate fans with a special ticket offer. Pitt Athletics will provide you four free tickets to invite friends and family out to enjoy some Panthers Football. Let’s make every effort to fill Heinz Field and build an atmosphere that gives our Panthers the best opportunity to win!

Details

Location: Lower Level End Zone
*While supplies last!
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*Print-at-Home does include a $2 fee for the entire order
Quantity of Tickets: Maximum of four
Expiration: Thursday, November 9 at NOON
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You can forward this email along or make the request for tickets on your own. We will see you at Heinz Field Thursday night!

Hail to Pitt!
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284 thoughts on “It Had to Happen Sometime…”

  2. Smells like desperation. Risky move, if it works AD is a genius, if it fails, will be discussed during the game as supporting the narrative that Pitt doesn’t have fan support.

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    1. Forecasting the weather more than 5 days out is as futile as predicting bowl match ups in September.

      Only thing for sure. It will be dark by kickoff time.

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  6. my point is that these gimmicks are a sign of desperation, are a sign that previous marketing has failed, are a sign that Pitt is second rate. espn will then show this when only 25k fans show and say ‘i remember the dan marino days and this pitt has no dan marino.’

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Tx… desperate times (audience-wise) call for desperate measures…. it’s been said in the past on the POV…” give tickets away..”.

    I say screw Thursday night games .. oh, I forgot/ we need the TV revenue…..

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    1. He may have meant cold and windy.

      29 degrees and 15 mph winds

      You thought the uva game was bad – just wait. That’s why the free ticket giveaway.

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      1. The nice thing about a cold November night – unc will be starting a FR QB who is from Denver, NC.

        Never played a game at QB in the cold.

        Advantage DiNooch.

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  10. Risky? I mean maybe, but if it “fails” so what?

    It’ll just confirm what we already knew. Tarping, soda giveaways, free tickets, pizza coupons, dancing bears, pole dancers at halftime, none of it matters. Not enough people care about Pitt football to even come close to filling Heinz on a regular basis, and there’s no gimmick, from the sublime to the ridiculous, which will change that.

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  11. the current situation is an accumulation of the Pitt admin mismanagement over several years. Face it, it is about damned time all Pitt POVers and Pitt fans in general accept the program for what it is … mediocre. The attendance is mediocre, the budget is mediocre, the interest is mediocre and the W-L record is mediocre.

    And it’s way past time that we quit blaming every coach who passes through here for its mediocrity. It is not their fault. I can make an argument that they actually do better than they should given all the constraints this program presents them. Yes, maybe one day we will strike it rich and hire a young guy (like Iowa State’s Matt Campbell) who will turn around this program, and we will actually only lose 2 games breaking a current 35 year string of 3 losses or more per season. But he will be gone in 3 years.

    All the issues aren’t self-imposed. Pitt does not have a large alumni base as do the programs we aspire to be. And of course, the biggest issue is sharing a city with professional teams including an iconic NFL franchise.

    Maybe since I’m not an alum, I can view this program a bit more objectively than most others here. But the only thing I can tell you is that the program will not get better if its fans quit complaining …. too cold, noon start, the team is not that good this year, too far, etc. … and start showing up. Now I know that some of you are the most loyal fans around … I’m talking about the Pitt alums and fanbase in general.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. wwb – I’ll be at the game with my ear muffs and gloves. It should be a motivator in the NE for the fans when your team plays a southern bell.

      Lambeau Field is always packed in sub-zero temps.

      By the way, I have no interest in the pro team playing the same sport in the same city as Pitt, other than James Conner.

      HTP!

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    1. I must admit I don’t show up for every game. But I plan to next year when I move back. When I lived in town, I missed maybe a game every 2 years or so.

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  14. You know you have a problem when you can’t even give em away.

    I have said before, there is no short term solution.

    In the long term, you have to change the culture at Pitt.

    That Rah Rah school spirit that is ingrained in our rivals can be infused in our freshmen but it will take an effort from the top down that has never been there.

    I noticed the difference 50 years ago when I went from a high school where sports were important to Pitt where nobody cared. It changed a little during the Dorsett and Marino years but face it Pitt students and alumni for the most part, just don’t care.

    If they don’t care, her won’t be many like wwb who are not alum, but are still fans.

    Winning will help the most, as will keeping local players at home, since they bring their own fans with them, but Heather needs to change the culture, a really big job.

    At least she is trying with this give a way, but it is an act of desperation, which our rivals will disparage greatly.

    I always thought that SP’s program of tying seating into how much you donate was wrong. What you get is a lot of corporate seats with no one or worse the visiting fans in the best seats. The same reason I say give the students the best seats directly behind the team similar to the Zoo. It will increase crowd noise, and increase long term school spirit. Also give young alumni affordable premier seats nearest the students, instead of old successful alums who sit on their hands or don’t show up or stand up in bad weather.

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  15. Wow, glad I read this thread. We will fail, it is all useless, we are second rate, we are mediocre, Heather is desperate, nobody will watch, it will be raining, whether we watch at home or go to the game we will wind up spilling tea on our mini skirts, woe is us! Bitching and whining. Genius.

    I don’t live in Pittsburgh, but there’s a lot to do, and the city is voted as one of the best places/cities to live in America, so if a team isn’t winning, many people will do something else. And frankly, it’ll probably take a few years of winning. We’re not surrounded by cows, steer or corn fields for hundreds of miles in every direction, where the football game is the only game in town. Hey, as Backacrosstheriver reminded us above, at least we don’t have those pukish Maryland helmets. So we got that going for us.

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  16. what else is there to do but bitch and moan. Pitt gives us plenty of reasons. Are you saying we are part of the problem? Most fans do continue attending despite the administration’s best efforts to screw things up. We have some of the most loyal fans out there given the Hell this program has been through over the past 35 years brought on by a careless BoT and ineffective AD leadership.

    What gc says is true (read above).

    I’d rather complain. I’d rather not donate. I’d rather not attend. Give me a reason Pitt to say nice things and I will. To donate and I will. To attend and I will. But I’m not flying in to watch a bad team against a bad team on a cold day. Not giving money to this abortion of a program with its current leadership and vision.

    And our words as individuals arent being heard. Unless you are a big booster, you have no influence. But forums like this where we can collectively voice opinions and offer solutions, are being heard. The minions read these boards. But what makes them (our leaders) take action is ticket revenue and donations.

    Again dont blame complaining fans for Pitts issues. You put a winner on the field and fans will show. You schedule good teams, some more fans will show. You make the Heinz venue more college like before/after/during the game and more fans will show.

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  17. What is the weather fear? I remember scraping ice off my bleacher seat in State college in the early 1980’s.

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  18. I think back to sports teams that turned it around, and the one I can easily relate to is the Steelers. What happened there:

    1) they were the losers of all losers. For 40 yrs, just terrible. So bad they had no field of there own and had to play on other teams turf. (Pitt stadium, Forbes Field)

    2) They hired a coach with a belief in himself and what he was doing.

    3) Went 1-13 first yr. Attendence still sucked.

    4) Got some players, but not enough, improved somewhat. Attendence still sucked.

    5) Got a dynamic player who fans just loved (Franco)

    6)Moved to a new stadium.

    7) Team got good at same time.

    8) Attendence soared, but still could get seats.

    9)Started winning, big time. Long time losers became winners. Fans flocked.

    9) Perfect storm.

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    1. As a kid, I remember my Dad taking me out to South Park to watch the Steelers practice at the fair grounds…

      Pretty amazing turn-around indeed…

      Go Pitt.

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  19. I think the point is that it will take multiple things going right, a change at the top, good coaches and players who generate excitement and stimulate the fan base as well as a new facility. Tried and true.

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  20. Heinz is a killer.
    It sucks when it is sold out and it really sux with 22,500. The yellow seats are a big glowing warning sign for recruits to go someplace else.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Now on to something completely different.

    A college football fan living in Pittsburgh has four options when considering watching his sport of preference live in person. WVU, OSU, PSU or Pitt.

    Good luck finding cheap tickets for OSU or PSU, plus who wants to spend hours on the road for a day trip to creepy valley or Columbus? Morgantown is an easy drive option by comparison but then you do have to deal with those Mountaineer fans and of course, dodge all of those burning couches when exiting that Morganhole campus when those misfits win a game.

    Which leaves us with the final option of having a local venue that is easy to get to, right in the heart of your hometown that plays the same big time football as these others in the ACC Conference. But this option is not without it’s own problems.

    First, you have to put up with the insane traffic of fighting with 40 to 45,000 other fans attempting to show up at a stadium that only has five major traffic arteries that dump you right off in the North Shore at the acres of convenient parking lots/garages there. And if parking there isn’t your desire, there are just no other options! It’s not like you can just hop on a mass transit system that drops you off at front door of Heinz Field or that other parking options exist that might involve a leisurely walk across a bridge from downtown or provide a nice boat ride from the Southside on the Gateway Clipper fleet.

    Then of course you have to deal with that dump of a stadium! Heaven forbid if you have an upper tier seat! Not only do you have to stand on an escalator if the elevators are crowded with lines, then when you get up there if you’re unfortunate enough to be in an upper row you have to be bothered by being under an overhanging roof protecting you from the elements if it rains. And those yellow seats! Contoured with comfortable backs to fit our out of shape far a$$es supplied with your own cup holder! A cup holder?!?!? Who the hell needs a cup holder, it’s not like you’re going to be able to buy a beer or two during the game to use it, since it IS a college game after all.

    And heaven forbid if you have to take a piss during the game since there is only a rest room situated at every other exit from the field’s seating which are actually large enough to permit you to get in & out without feeling like you’re cattle going through some Chicago slaughter house stockyard. And they are heated! Who needs heated bathrooms on a cold November evening when the wind is blowing at a constant 20 MPH!?

    Then after the game, WTF are you supposed to do in the middle of the North Shore afterwards? It would be nice if there was a bar or two to get a nightcap before dealing with the exiting traffic, or maybe a restaurant close enough to be walking distance to grab dinner after the game? Is that too much to ask? It’s not like I’m wishing for a casino to satisfy my gambling Jones after a Panther win, GEEZ!

    Oh yeah, I almost forgot about them, the Pitt Panthers. They suck! Worst football ever. They never beat anybody! Like really, when is the last time that they’ve beat a team like Penn State or Clemson? And the players? Boring! Can you even remember the last time that the Panthers put a significant player into the NFL? Would it be too much to ask to have a guy like Switzer from UNC was who could take a kick return to the house every time he touches the ball! If we only had a guy like that to create just a little excitement around the program.

    Life is what you make of it. This parody sounds pretty ridiculous once it is made so obvious what we College Football Fans have as a great resource right here in Pittsburgh.

    If I still lived in the Burgh, as a season ticket holder, right about now I’d be rounding up my lucky foursome who just got invited to an evening of college football that provides me the opportunity to turn on some other potential fans to my Pitt Panthers. And to do that, it is going to cost me exactly ZERO dollars. But instead of thanking Pitt for my gift for being a season ticket holder, I’ll decide to bitch and moan about it instead.

    What a $hitty attitude.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Great post Dr. Tom.

      I take the T right to the stadium. Another nice option is to park at the 1st Avenue garage and take the free T over to the stadium…

      And you didn’t mention that there’s no place to tailgate before and after the Pitt game unless you can stop at Reed’s POV tailgate, expertly hosted by Fran LastRow…

      Go Pitt

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  25. This is a PITT football blog, it is for celebrating our team, complaining about our team or presenting ideas for improvement and all things in between. Airing of our grievances, kind of like Festivous

    One thing as you all know is, I like to complain about the complainers. You know the ones that say things like: always, never, constantly, SOP, forever and general false / pseudo statements over and over again. Sure everything said is true in the commenters eyes and maybe they are to some degree but forever?

    That said, Reed set this blog up for us to air our thoughts and talk about the state of PITT football and we all have different ideas while we really don’t know the whole truth of whats really going on deep inside the walls of The University of Pittsburgh.

    The latest, bemoaning that Heather is admitting there is a problem with attendance, come again? Is there not a problem with PITT football attendance? Give a way’s never work, ever? It is what it is, an attempt and at least she is willing to show us PITT fans she is trying something.. anything is better than nothing.

    The Fanta thingie was a little strange to me though.

    The not so funny thing is that almost all the comments above are very true and I have no problems with all the thoughts except for the ones complaining about heather doing something. I thought thats what we wanted her to do, do something Heather and so she trying. I give her an A for effort but she actually should have done something like this earlier in the season, imo.

    We all the problems PITT is faced with and we actually have some good ideas for solutions but who’s listening? Maybe Richman can fill us all in Thursday and tell us that the light-bulb went off in the BOT’s head and they are all in on PITT football, or not.

    Earlier in my life I was deeply involved with unions and held high positions, some years the highest. It was kind of like a juggler, not letting anything or body fall down. The POV reminds me of a union where we are all for one but with 1,000,000,000 different ways of thinking. It’s why it’s so good. Hell we already have had ten different weather forecasts on here this morning. You guys would make great weatherman. .. :). . . .ike

    H2P!

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  26. Just read Dr Tom’s comment. BINGO! I believe we both got up on the same side of the bed this morning. Baby I’m amazed how negative people in general are.

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  27. One thing we’ve discussed her is national perception. Here’s all you need to know.

    On game day this morning while discussing the remainder of VT’s schedule, David Pollack said they would win out if they beat Miami. His quote?..

    “They’ll win the rest of their games. They play Georgia Tech, Virginia and somebody else they’ll beat.”

    That’s who we are to the outside world.. “somebody else they’ll beat.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s what I’m talking bout! We’re “somebody”!!!!

      Started off a Pitt fan as a student in 1971, when we were “nobody” and beat UCLA in their evening home opener on National TV. Followed them while in dental school as they shocked the world going from nobody to “Pitt is It” as national champions in the four short years of “A Major Change in Pitt Football”! Enjoyed the the next few years of Jackie Sherill Pitt Football when we were one of the ELITE programs as the near perfect seasons continued while our guys played with those who now are in the Pro football HOF with names like Marino, Jackson & Grimm. Suffered through the next couple of decades as Pitt lost their way as well as their elite status as they wallowed into the morass of less than mediocre football with coaches like Fazio, Hackett & Majors version 2.0. Back to being NOBODY!

      Yeah, guys like Gottfried & Harris gave more wins than losses but the good times and big wins were to few and far between. Want provided a renewed hope of a true Pitt guy to bring back those past glory days but other than a string of great running backs being put into the Pitt pipeline during those times only one 10 win season was left to hang our hats on.

      So now here we are. Where exactly are we? I’m not quite sure myself? What Narduzzi has to offer remains to be seen, but at least we’re “somebody”, feels better than being nobody😂😂😂!

      Beat the Heels!

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  28. Probably said the same thing last year when talking about Clemson’s later schedule. They won’t be saying that next year and years after that. I believe.

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  29. You can write all the satire you want. The satire is needed because for it to be humorous( It Is), it has to be truthful.

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  30. BTW, Although in the above e-mail, Heather doesn’t use the word perception but it’s exactly what she is talking about as she is addressing the perception of PITT football.

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  31. There are many people in SW PA that have never been to Heinz Field. For next year I would do a campaign saying, I F you have never been to Heinz Field and never seen in person, a major Prole or college FB, for the price of one Steelers ticket get añ entire season of college games, including the Penn State game. ALos I’d focus on the opportunity to who see might be the next Pitt major star like T Dorsett, A Donald, Larry Fitz, Justin Conner, etc..

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  32. Dr. Tom @ 8:44,
    Correction: We turn our clocks back (“fall back”) tonight so it will be dark by kickoff! :>)

    Personally, I think it’s a good move for several reasons (the ticket giveaway)
    1. At least Heather is aware we have a serious problem (no more denial or Fanta)
    2. There’s plenty of seats to go around
    3. We’ve got nothing to lose. Our perception is already in the tank so what’s it matter?
    4. The fans hopefully will enjoy a Pitt victory and wet their appetite.

    Hey, the lady is willing to show some gonads (so to speak).

    Liked by 1 person

  34. I will give Heather credit for trying something…anything. But reality is reality. Hot, cold, windy, raining…it doesn’t matter….Thursday 25,000 max. MAC thinking…small myopic thinking!

    Now, if you really want to get attendance up…. and start uplifting spirits and building momentum as Majors did in 1974…announce that Pitt is starting a 3 year study to plan and raise money for an on campus stadium! Maybe partnering w UPMC. If you come to the game (and you must attend in person) you get to fill out a suggestion sheet for the OCS! Bet you could get 40,000 real live people easy! That’s MACRO thinking…

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  35. wbb you said…

    “Face it, it is about damned time all Pitt POVers and Pitt fans in general accept the program for what it is … mediocre. The attendance is mediocre, the budget is mediocre, the interest is mediocre and the W-L record is mediocre….”

    I’d add a few more mediocre things pertaining to present day and football-specific but that’s already been said.

    What I get frustrated about writing these articles I do is that they are commonly called ‘negative’ when in fact I am just getting very specific with what you wrote above. Pitt is what it is and that’s why I don’t jump up and down and tear my hair out when we lose a game, or even crow about beating teams we truly are supposed to be able to beat even in a down year such as YSU, Rice, Duke and VA and soon, hopefully, NC.

    I do like that we won 8 games the past two years but when you were winning 6 and 7 games in the previous four years that jump isn’t all that dramatic. It feels great and compared to the rather blase’ play we have previous it was exciting with some bigger wins but I don’t see us vying for any sort of championship in the future – near or far.

    That isn’t all on Narduzzi either. It is because – and I have been beating this horse for 10 years – Pitt treats football only as a sport that has to be in your athletics resume’ because if you don’t have it your university is seen as ‘less than’.

    Pitt wants a stable program that wins more than it loses most years. Pitt will not tolerate scandals or denigrating actions of any sort thus their firing of our two best HCs in modern history – Harris and Wannstedt. And no arguments – that is exactly why they both were fired.

    Appearance is everything as evidenced by the ticket giveaway for a televised game. Pitt wouldn’t do that for a non-televised game because they don’t really give a crap how many butts are in the seats because that revenue is minimal compared to the fixed Conference pay-out and TV contract money.

    Does this bother me? No – not really because I understand the University’s overall mission areas and have had long talks with Pitt administrators who feel that while football is ‘nice to have’ it is but a very small part of the university overall. See, I agree with this stance and while I’d like to see the football purse strings opened up a bit I also understand that Pitt will never use much, if any, money from their general budgetary funds for it. And they will certainly never touch endowment monies for sports.

    It is what it is folks and the faster we frame our fandom to understand Pitt’s overall stance toward the football program the less frustration you’ll have when we keep doing things on the cheap – and by that I mean not only does Pitt accept it is a ‘stepping stone’ athletic department, they embrace it because it fits the small budget they work under.

    It isn’t any strange thing that the ADs we hire go elsewhere (which Lyke will do at first chance at a pay raise) or that our HCs take off for greener pastures (which I believe HCPN would do in a second if a bigger $$$ contract is waved in front of him).

    Mediocre is an apt word for the athletic department, football and the putrid amount of money donated to supplement the actual budget.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Then why bother? I don’t want to be one of those Wake Forest fans that shell out $$$ to watch bad football for decades and say, “our kids are clean” or “our academics are strong.’

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  36. Need to give away full scholarship for semester to students. 1 or 2 each game lottery after the game.
    Also move the seats behind visitors bench. That is where tv cameras are pointing.

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    1. Best re-seating idea I’ve heard yet.

      The scholarship suggestion has been made before – keep mentioning it as I think it has legs. Virginia currently does this at their home games at their on campus stadium.

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  37. Reed, you keep leaning on the phrase that PITT only beats the teams they are supposed to beat. Come on friend, don’t make me say it again….. but you did, PITT beat the about to be national champions at their house less than a year ago.

    Loss on memory is a sign of aging, don’t you have a birthday coming up very soon? How old are you again as I know you have had trouble remembering that? 🙂 Happy Birthday Reed…. ike

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  38. If PITT can beat the eventual national champions and give them their only loss of the season at their death valley home-field then they can be national champions too…imo . . . .ike

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  39. Ike – You brought me out of retirement with such a asinine comment. Winning one game against a team that almost lost 3 times last year in final seconds is different than us winning a championship. We will never come close to winning a ACC Title let alone a NCAA championship. Man sometimes you need called out on this nonsense.

    Liked by 1 person

    3. I “liked” your comment, even though I don’t Lyke your comment. Haha

      I figure the marriage deserved the focus way more than Pitt athletics(way more fun too), but glad you’re dropping back in at least a bit.

      When we win Thursday and then beat one of the 2 remaining, will that make any difference for you? If we don’t win any, it will for me in a capitulation….until next year. BTW, already capitualted with the basketball team for this year and lykely next few.

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  41. You know how many of my comments I’ve posted lately thinking this will finally be the one get to Upitt to come back. I kid you not. . . … and as usual, you are wrong again…

    Thanks for not cowering down to me…. ike 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Miami unfortunatley or I’d be there for my Fanta and begging for people to join for free to support our promotions expert AD. Maybe she can give out Obama Bobbleheads and we can all dress up as Star Wars people and drink Fanta if we stay. This woman isn’t qualified to run a Sonic in Carrick.

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  44. While the give away is a sign of desperation there is another way to look at it. Even though Heather was handing out the usual awards during the VA game she apparently took a good look at the stadium from somewhere and realized there was a problem, a big problem. Me and 20k others braved the cold rain to come and watch what turned out to be a good game, 40 k did not (note to self bring gloves and handwarmers – had to walk around stadium at half time to last -about 5k lasted with me an bro til end.), SP and Barney would have simply pointed to season ticket sales inflated by Pedder and WVCC and said things were going great. To quote the great Clint Eastwood “dont piss down my back and tell me it’s raining) Heather may end up being mocked but at least it is recognition of a problem which is the first step to fixing it. Many have said it in the past but these endzone seats given away free would lapped up by those who cannot afford to go to games – city students, scouts etc. – I know as I grew up poor. Someone mentioned the 1-13 Steelers playing at Pitt Stadium – I quit eating 50 cent lunches and spent my $3 bucks saved each week on youth end zone tickets. Keep trying Heather, I won’t mock you on this.
    HAIL TO PITT
    ps Still would lyke an OCS Heather – smaller, not so cavernous when 20 K show – like 40K.

    Liked by 1 person

  46. Reed .. love your comment above .. I compare PITT to my golf game… when I shoot in the 90’s and when I do I am pleased Lots of good mixed with lesser bad which I compare to a PITT 8-8 season. Last month shot an 82 pulling a lot of putts outta my butt- the compare to a Pitt beating Clemson… mostly I score in the 90s to low 100s and I compare myself to PITT football- not a lot of committment and not enough talent!

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  47. You guys are delusional if you think it’s all unicorns and rainbows. Fans have a right to bitch after 35 years of mistreatment and lies. I call it reality and not negativism. You can continue to support this abortion and accept mediocrity or you can vote with your pocket. I’m glad there’s a cup holder for your Fanta.

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    1. You are entitled to your opinion TX. BTW, when was the last time that you actually attended a Panthers game?

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  48. Ike, I was taking liking about this year. If you remember I did jump up and down after the wins against Penn State and Clemson last year and I wrote glowing articles about the team in about Pat narduzzi’s ability to get the job done against those two teams. But this year we’re beating the teams we are supposed to beat and the teams that are better than us or I think even equal to us, except for maybe Virginia, they’ve been kicking the crap out of us. So even with those great wins last year I think they’re good wins but they don’t define a program and that’s what we need at Pitt. We need wins every year that defined the program as being a strong program that other teams have to play their best ball game to beat us instead of just lining up and beat us.

    This is a down year,I understand that, and I think we will be better next year but the bottom line with me is I don’t think we’re going to be a championship team and anytime in my lifetime.

    I really don’t believe that we’re going to see a national championship or maybe not even a conference Championship as long as this situation is as it is and I don’t see it changing.

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  49. How about $5 tix for kids 12 and under, and taking a page from the Pirates book, an opportunity to run on the field after each day game. Hook em young!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Great idea Mark, but Rooneys would never allow the common person to run around on their hallowed football field!

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  50. predicting weather is a bigger guess at this far out but weather channel has Wednesday 0%, Thur 10% Frid 0%. Highs 49, dress warm and quit whining its football in W Pa

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  51. Glad to see that you’re still allowed to post on the Pitt POV Upitt. I was beginning to speculate that you’d already succumbed to some subversive form of Eastern European pussy whipping that had significantly reduced the computer time made available to you.😁

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    1. It was tempting Doc.

      Honestly the euphoria over beating nobodies became to much for me to handle. Now we are winning a NCAA. Yes we beat Clemson and lost to 5 weaker teams. That is like like being a hand model
      in the Trib review ad for Bon Ton and saying you will be on the cover of Vogue in a bikini soon.

      Like

  52. I want to clarify something. When I say don’t blame all the coaches that pass thru here, it’s not their fault …. I mean on a macro / long-term level. That’s not to say that we can’t be critical of coaching decisions whether it be hiring decisions, the defense being played or the personnel being used …. that’s what we do as fans and why sites like these exist. I just don’t want people to go too overboard here as happens sometimes, and understand the coaches often don;t have resources that heir competition does.

    I’ve been following Pitt athletics on these blogs since whatever preceded Pitt Blather about 10 or 11 years ago … and I find it quite curious that the only coach that I saw not getting much criticism in these years was Todd Graham on Pitt Blather back then. Maybe that says a lot about you people when it comes to judging talent and character.

    Like

    1. How much criticism can a coach accumulate in just 10 months of tenure? Plus there was always the less than stellar play making of Tino Sackseri, to garner 1st dibs on the most vitriolic criticism to begin with. Sometimes coming from Fraud Graham himself!

      Like

      1. exactly … and you guys fell right into his egotistical trap that his QB was the source of all that was wrong. C’mon Dr Tom, you’re smarter than that.

        Isn’t it something that the year before in his first year as starter, he only took 22 sacks?

        Like

        1. He needed experience in sack taking to get better at it. Look how he got sacked more as he matured! Solid.

          Like

          1. Didn’t the Tino years coincide with some of Pitt’s worst offensive lines of the last 10 years? I mean I remember the collective sense of relief when Chryst was hired because of his reputation for recruiting and developing offensive lineman. I remember lots of criticism of Wannstedt for not recruiting good offensive linemen.

            Like

  53. You know, I actually see things a little differently. I see a ray of hope, or maybe grasping at straws. The new hospital plan from UPMC may turn into our benefit. If they decide they need mass transit now for patients and employees we might get the access we need to get to Oakland. I really think that until that access occurs you’ll never get an OCS.

    Dr. Tom, I really have no argument over Heinz, except it’s not on campus. It could be in Washington county, and have even better access, but isn’t the point of college athletics to have the events at a college? The ties that bind us are at the site of the school. The emotional, and I will say, financial ties are stronger there. Come to the campus, see the buildings, revive memories, give us your money. Ask yourself, of the people who go to the games, how many of the non students then go to campus?? That is the disconnect. I can live with the stadium, as I don’t think it’s a bad venue, it just does nothing for our brand.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s a great point. The “Branding” at Heinz is pretty pathetic. How difficult is it to “Panthers” in the hash marked endzone & place the ACC logos on the field along with a bigger Pitt Script at midfield?

      Like

      1. I agree with you so much. It irritates me at every single game. It really can’t be all the difficult and how much more could it really cost?

        I am also in total agreement with moving the students and band about 90 degrees around the stadium from their current location.

        Like

  54. WELCOME BACK UPITT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    (I figured your new bride was keeping you rather busy and exhausted. Glad you once again have the strength to press the keyboard buttons! Congrats!!!)

    Like

  55. last year Penn State game. and I walked campus…our real campus and not the north shore.

    refused to go this year. I normally make it in for 1-2 games each year. And dont think because I dont attend or refuse to support makes me somehow a bad fan. I’m a supporter that knows a terrible product when I see it and I’ll call Pitt out on it. I vote with my wallet.

    refused to donate 10 years ago after the Wanny firing and how Nerdball and Cornhole royally screwed Pitt athletics.

    31 out of 32 NFL stadiums are better than Heinz. Go to Houston or Dallas and then tell me how great Heinz is. I’d rather sit on a bleacher in my campus stadium than plant my arse down in a yellow seat with a cupholder. Just my opinion. The game is secondary on game day for college. Pitt misses out on this aspect.

    Look at what A&M does. Need to learn from them. Because it doesnt matter if they even win, the house is sold out, donations flow in. Its an experience, atmosphere, tradition and culture thing. None of these pillars Pitt has.

    So I will continue to not smell the roses and not dream of unicorns because Pitt provides us with a foul smelling toad.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. If you didn’t enjoy the Pitt vs Penn State gam last year then you are a lost cause as a Pitt fan TX. Like I said, life is what you make it. Plenty of good college football in Texas, pick one with with a stadium full of bleacher seating and become a Longhorn fan or something. Life is just too short otherwise.

      Like

      1. TCU has an awesome stadium and support. But…… take Texas today and take Iowa and LSU. All will cover baby!!

        TCU’s stadium is better than Heinz. Ask the 5 Pitt fans that were there with me you know the Houston game.

        Narduzzi is atrocious at recruiting. Talent trumps all and his 3 star guys get you 6-7 wins and that allows Heather to wear her gold blouse and take pics every 4 mins with alumni who are 80 year old and senile.

        Liked by 1 person

  56. Joe, now that’s forward thinking and a great point. Making Oakland even more important can’t be a bad thing. There is already another huge project in the works that calls for a T station near Bates street. Remember we talked about it.

    Reed, I get your points and I don’t argue them. I disagree that PITT “can’t” win championships no matter how much I may doubt it. Can’t is one of those buzz words with me. It’s another word that I will “never” carry around in my vocabulary considering PITT football.

    We all believe in what it is we feel in our hearts. So some beieve and some don’t…. The day I believe PITT has no chance to make the ACC playoff game is the day I’ll stop buying season tickets. << which will be never… ike

    H2P!

    Like

  57. Reed .. we couldn’t win an outright conference title in the Big Easy …with Wannsredts good recruiting efforts… ACC is a much better conference… maybe one day we rise to the top….. wishful thinking

    Liked by 1 person

  58. Tx, you are not a fan. Stay off this blog please. No one needs your negativity. I am on the fan committee and it is very clear they are working very hard to do better. It is people like you who contribute nothing and are part of the problem. We don’t want you, go root for PSucks.

    Like

    1. Richman – With all do respect if you think your fan committee means anything then I have nothing to say buddy. Heather and Pumpkin Head Barnes had 25 committees. All they do is talk and act important. Action not forming BS fan committees with half of carnegie and blawnox.

      Like

  59. Watching Cuse… very entertaining football team…

    Dino Babers and Mike Tomlin look like Brothers- meaning related

    Like

    1. Cuse is what Pitt will look like when we have mostly seniors on the team instead of frosh’s & sophs. Then followed by 2 very bad years as they (cough) re-load. The inability to redshirt hurts both teams.

      Like

      1. Syracuse has 7 sophomores starting mostly on defense. They have 14 sophomores or lower on second string.

        Pitt starts 3 offensive players that are RS-So or younger.

        The Pitt youth thing is way overdone, especially 9 games into the season.

        Like

  60. Todd Graham at a time when steve was at his all time narcissistic peak after he back-stabbed Dave, realized he was the one who fell into a trap…… Todd ran for the hills much like the Colts moved to Indianapolis. In the dead of the night. Graham said he would talk then backed off. I wish he would have spilled his guts but it wouldn’t have been the best career move.

    Not to say I liked the guy but one year? It’s like saying Narduzzi has NEVER won a bowl game while at PITT. All two of them……

    Like

  62. Attend a game at A&M rich man. Then give me a call. 682-209-7602. Pitt is losing fans and I’m sorry to say but these committees are just for optics. Heather needs to earn her salary.

    And what would you have me do. Say untrue nice things. Fly in to attend a game in a stadium morgue being played by a crappy team. Donate money so more Fantas can be given or bobbleheads or stars wars stuff. The emperor has no clothes.

    Like

  63. Richman that’s a little rough but I like your fire. Tx_ is a PITT fan and I can tell he’s from the losing era. I do believe if you claim to be a PITT fan than you have to be all in, it can’t be any other way remember………………………….

    We All We Got!
    We All We Need
    H2P!

    Like

  64. The good news is that after going 4-17 from the field, the Pitt BB team turned a 7 point deficit into a 5 point half time lead. The bad news is that they are playing Slippery Rock. (in fairness, all 11 Pitt players were in half way thru the 1st half

    Like

  65. Don’t put words in my mouth doc. I enjoyed the rivalry game last year. Tell me how many fans enjoyed the Virginia game last week.

    Like

  66. Wow quite a read!

    Just added da burg to my phone weather widget .. it says Thursday partly cloudy and 33 to 69 for a range … that sounds like football weather to me.

    Here is my challenge to Tx and Upitt (way glad you are back Upitt)

    I’ll get my ass out of this MT 26 deg snowy weather and meet you two at the game where we will buy tickets as a donation to the program and attend the POV tailgate if you will. The pass will be snowed in by midnight so let me know because I’ve got a six hour drive just to get to the airport.

    Heather is reaching out .. let’s meet her half way.

    The challenge is open to any other POVers from out of town too. Takers????

    Like

    1. 9-2,

      I will treat you to a week in Miami and South Beach and we can look at Brazilians and drink Mojitos and smoke Cubans!

      Like

  67. Ike
    I’m from an era where I sat in a tv room on campus as a student with mike gottfriend watching Ohio state play the week before Pitt. Then Pitt plays Ohio state the following week and crushes them. Then at the end of the season, gottfriend is fired and Pitt has been irrelevant since. So my childhood years of watching greatness was turned over in a blink of an eye by an administration that sought to destroy the athletic culture. That’s indisputable. And I’m called a bad fan for speaking the truth and saying no to Fanta.

    Like

  68. The emperor does have clothes Tx_ we just can’t see them.. << Maybe you hit the problem dead on… Maybe it’s us PITT fans who are the emperors?

    BTW, Texas A&M and PITT comparison? << Here’s your biggest problem.

    Let’s give Heather a doggone chance before we judge her. Can we understand that constant change may be the biggest reason for the PITT football program downfall. That and many other reasons not named Heather!

    After two real nice regular seasons and now a struggling season people are pulling their hair out and over-reacting. I’m envious, I think I may look better with no hair but I really don’t care.

    Looking forward to a fun time Thursday night. . . . .ike

    Like

    1. Heather is a rookie Joke Ike. In business, she would be fired in her first 6 months. I will leave for my sebatical again but listen to Huff if you want the truth and my man Dallas Mike. Heather is not qualified. Go form more committees Heather and meet at Wholley’s and act like anyone cares.

      Like

  69. No mention of the free ticket giveaway on pantherlair.com.

    Peak runs that like an oppressionistic communist regime. God forbid someone discuss something that appears negative towards Pitt.

    Thank you Reed for believing in freedom of speech and not censorship.

    Like

    1. It’s a season ticket holder one time offer. No need to publicly announce it. Those who need to know, know.

      Like

  72. Upitt send pictures and not of the Cubans. Why get upset if we have different opinions? I’m not upset at all. In fact it’s a great day because we all heard form you…..

    Like

    1. I’m not mad I just think if we aren’t realistic with Heather it will
      Be an excuse for her to stay status quo.

      I want a Real AD. A Real HC and Real Support and BOT. Not old fart bums who are dorks.

      Like

      1. Good luck with that, especially with the idea of a BOT that aren’t old, aren’t fat & that don’t fart with their bums.

        Like

  73. Have I mentioned that proofreading is not my strong suit? Even for a lousy one sentence comment. I got to get more on the beam. I’ll bet Heather proofreads….

    Like

    1. She doesn’r fo anything else ofher than give away fake awards, rent hotels and give f ing fantas away befging kids to stay. Well
      Worth her 300k or whatever peanuts she makes.

      Like

      1. Or did he? Quit monkeying around with comments Lyke that.

        Tell me Pitt did not lose to a D2 school in B.B. today.

        Like

  78. Just another 2-3 games then we can shift to Heather saying how special this door to door milk man is and that his recruiting is going to surprise many! In other news Heather is devising a plan to attract fans by offering them a free pencil and Cherokee Red if they make it till halftime.

    Like

    1. I think she got the pencils deeply discounted from a closed golf course. I was hoping to get a longer one with an eraser at the end. Maybe next year !

      Like

    2. Phuck you Upitt. Lyke will be stepping up her game come B.B. season. It will be a Bic gel pen plus a RedBull to get primed for the second half for those that hang for the second half. It gives you Wings!
      😜🏀🕊🦇🦅

      Like

      1. Yes, He told a guy to buy a F ing pair of Rockports and the free gel soles or he would f -ing kill him. apparently Bon Ton has higher standards than Pitt Athletics. Now he is selling Milk and Vaccums door to door.

        Like

  79. Some are worried about Heather staying and some think she’ll be on the midnight train to Georgia first chance she gets. Me? I’m kind of middling guy which reminds me of a song and PLEASE, I hope no one takes offense, it’s just a joke and a kind of cheesy one at that. Loves my songs:

    Like

  80. If we’re going to give-a-way tickets. I suggest we go one step farther. We could have the Campus Bus (and maybe rent a few more) go around the Metro area and actually pick up the people outside their homes.

    This ensures they actually won’t get lost (or distracted) and actually end up in their yellow seat.

    And this added effort could actually become our Marketing Plan slogan for 2018.

    ” At Pitt we go the Extra Mile “

    Like

  82. How about honestly give every VET a ticket and something actually positive. Bring a Date to the Game as well would be better than get 4 free tickets. I could give away tickets to watch Herman bang a pumpkin in Oregon while looking at his fat a$s in the mirror saying Front Porch one liners. THat guy was a major pos.

    Like

  83. Last year for the Thursday night game I couldn’t attend or give my tickets away. Of course it was last minute and I live 50 some miles out.

    Back as a kid working we had a goofy boss that read way too many management magazines. Once he had the block walls painted in “soothing” colors with a Z stripe in the middle. Man did the older guys poke fun and they just hated jelly belly.

    Point is…. the unpainted walls got painted. He tried something…..better than nothing…

    Like

  84. The great Pedo Barkley with 6 rushing attempts for ZERO yards. The Creepsters with 1 Rushing Yard at Halftime. lol
    Go Sparty !

    Like

  85. Did Harvey Weinstein molest anyone on this blog? Just checking. Between he and Spacey they appeared to touch 2 out of every 3 humans.

    Like

  86. Told you take Iowa and OU and Texas later. On a roll! By the way Layne Kiffin already has 6 wins and 5-0 in conf. Wait till he starts recruiting studs.

    Like

    1. That former Pitt DT Taleni is playing well for Kiffin.

      His dismissal must have been all Pitt and not an NCAA infraction.

      Like

  87. Dr Tom, you are on a roll today buddy. :>)
    Emel, when I was a kid an old rickety red bus would pick us up and take us to the Bethel Park Roller Rink. Maybe those buses are still functional and the Panthers can use them to pick people up and take them to the games! (LOL)

    Like

  88. Was watching a bit of the Kansas game today and was wondering why anyone would even bother to show up. I mean, they’re in the Big 12 and obligated to have a team but other than a few years with Mangino (New Castle, PA) they simply don’t care about winning.

    And then, I realized I do the same thing. I root for a team where the school simply doesn’t care and the stadium is largely comprised of a small number of alumni, a few locals and students too young to know the school’s not even trying. And he’ll, they at least have an on campus stadium and a nationally relevant basketball team.

    As I teared up, I poured myself a cocktail and took solace in the fact that this (bye) weekend, there’s no way we can lose!

    Like

  91. Upitt is back, AND BETTER THAN EVER!!!!

    I didn’t realize how much I missed you. And your 4:50 pm post – 1000% agree!!!

    Like

  92. OSU giving Oklahoma all they can handle this afternoon at 28-24, down by 4 just into the 2nd Q, after scoring their last TD on a ballsie 4th and goal play!

    Like

  93. I also have to tip my cap to those Georgia Bulldogs as well. They’re playing like a playoff team this season.

    Like

  94. It should be clear to all that the milkman should deliver the free tickets to people.
    He can start Monday on his route and Change routes with other drivers until Wednesday.
    Can hand out the window of milk truck Thursday outside of Heinz.
    Students get a small chocolate milk as specific gift.

    Like

    1. LMAO KMAN! He is so toxic the milk would be spoiled. Maybe we can have How many times can Heather wear the same damn Yellow Blouse. I have seen it 4 games. Someone take her to Gabes on 51

      Like

  97. Tvax are you sure that wasn’t 57.9%?. MSU beat a team that beat a team that beat a team that crushed the Carrick Fifth Graders.
    Just flicked on the game, was anybody creeped out by the announcer who looked at Shaquon’s calfs and said with less clothes he looks like an Adonis? Is this Blackledge?

    Liked by 1 person

  100. The Suckeyes are not cooperating with keeping the Creepsters out of the playoffs. Getting punked by Iowa 45-17

    Like

    1. But the creepsters just lost to Sparty, so Moose is in the drivers seat for the B1G Joke title.

      Cheesy…

      Like

  102. The past has taught us: if Pitt is ranked in the top 10 to begin the season and has some star players, attendance will be fine. 1982 at Pitt Stadium and 2003 at Heinz. 8-4 seasons won’t pack the house. Pitt has got be ranked at the season’s end for the next season to feel the effect. Narduzzi came close but no cigar.

    Our new AD doesn’t need gimmicks. She just needs to be sure Narduzzi has everything he needs to win. Simple.

    Like

  108. SEC Arkansas losing to Coastal Carolina in the 4th qtr. Wisconsin HC who won 10+ game for the Badgers, can’t win at Arkansas – I believe his name is Bielima or something close…

    Moose has a nice set-up with Godfather Barry in charge.

    Like

    1. Bielema won at Wisc and will soon be fired at Ark. His successor at Wisc, Anderson, who averaged 10 wins there, lasted less than two years at Oregon St before he quit.

      I’ll guarantee PC isn’t going anywahere

      Like

    1. The Bigjoke lovin media spin will be : this shows how strong the conf, is overall . Sports media lies as much as the fake news media.

      Like

      1. So true…The Big Joke is a fraud again. It just revealed itself earlier than their annual Bowl embarrassment.

        Like

  113. But Ohio State has all those 5-star players and a 10-star Coach — how do they lose to 3-star Iowa?

    Go Pitt.

    Like

      2. Here in Pittsburgh the local sports experts (cough) think Barkley should be the first player taken in the draft.Seriously…

        Like

  116. Franklinstein is now 0-12 on the road against Ranked Opponents. Hope is anew in Creepy Valley, the Pedo’s can get back to beating the cupcakes of the Bigjoke for the next 3 weeks.

    Like

  117. MajorMajors, you crack me up. psu, OSU and their 5* players…..blah blah blah…..

    3* players will never win anything / PITT will never win anything… blah blah blah ….. Cause the scouting services are so smart. Why don’t they work for a real college football team if they know it all?

    You and I are on the same page, give people a half chance before we lean on them like we know more than they do.. Why haven’t we ever coached a P-5 college football team or just become athletic directors?. ….. ….. easy peezy, right? …. ike

    Like

    2. MSU beat psu today and lost to Northwestern last week. Northwestern lost to Duke early in the season and Duke lost to Pitt three weeks ago.

      That means we’d beat psu if we played them today.

      Applying a little creepy valley logic (like they did to us last year).

      Beat the tar out of the holes!

      Like

  121. The ball is definitely in Paulie’s court now. I can just see all the haggling on the national front when Wisc moves up to #5 if OK loses. But can’t blame Wisc, they are only doing what they have to do … and thus far doing it well.

    I guess the only thing now is how they will handle a late-game pressure situation since they haven’t had one yet

    Like

  123. if Ok St scores a TD here, it will be thr 4th time it has scored 59 points this year (If it’s any consolation)

    Like

  124. PSU will continue to beat up a bad OCC schedule and a crap Big Ten. But it is clear, with one win against a ranked 25 team by the Big Ten conference they stink. Clemson keeps winning they are in. So looks like Bama, GA, ND and Clemson unless Oklahoma moves up. Big Ten can’t take Wisky with that schedule I really don;t think they beat OSU in the championship game.

    Like

    1. in 2014, Wisc won the west division but lost 59-0 in Big 10 title game. That won’t happen this year, but an undefeated Wisc team may well not be favored against a 2 loss OSU or 2 loss PSU

      Like

      2. Maybe the B1G West isn’t any worse than the B1G East? I mean NW beat MSU just last week. OSU was just manhandled by Iowa. Iowa took PSU to the wire earlier this season.

        Like

        1. Best solution ….both divisions suck. They play no-one in the non-con other than the Suckeyes losing to Oklahoma at the Tattoo Horseshoe Ring.

          Like

    2. A B1G shutout for sure. The local sports clowns here all thought the Big Joke would have 2 teams in the playoffs.

      Like

      1. Just a couple weeks ago the National media clowns were too ! Unless there’s a ton of upsets (and when the Suckeyes lose there usually are), Bigjoke is kaput for this year.

        Like

        1. Or Godfather Barry pulls a favor and stays undefeated by squeaking out a conference championship, only to get shutout in the playoff 1st round like MSU in 2015 and tOSU in 2016.

          Like

  125. I’m gonna say the same thing I said on Facebook. Those knuckleheads should also give a free ticket to every student along with a $10 meal voucher and a free plastic bottle for taking “water” into the game

    Like

  126. Dr. Tom’s post at 9:54am is the best comment i have ever read on this site.

    You’re either part of the solution or part of the problem. Hope to see you Thursday night at Heinz.

    Like

  127. Congratulations to our own Reed Kohberger whose Allderdice won its first city title in 50 years … back when Reed led a student council protest in trying to get the defensive coordinator fired.

    Like

  128. Hey Provo, stop by the POV tailgate at Red-5A and be with friends. Look for the American and POV flags flying high and proudly. We are not a clique. All are welcome. We are all in………….. and hoping to be a part of the solution.!… ike

    H2P!

    Like

  129. Atlanta Panthers posted:

    “I’m gonna say the same thing I said on Facebook. Those knuckleheads should also give a free ticket to every student along with a $10 meal voucher and a free plastic bottle for taking “water” into the game”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    …. but but that would be admitting there is a problem with the attendance for PITT football games and it would surely fail because Heather is dumb.. Haven’t you heard that just bitching about everything PITT is the solution? Wake up AP

    btw, I do like your idea a lot. It’s called inroads and returning PITT football to the people who are most important right now. The PITT students, the future of PITT football!!

    Give PITT football a chance and donate, go to the games or gather as one and make a difference! … It’s time the POV is heard…. ike ….We All We Got!

    H2P!

    Like

  130. UPitt and Tx_Panther are the smartest posters on here.

    You unicorn and rainbow posters are not helping the program. You have embraced the status quo and do nothing to force change.

    Fight the good fight, realists. I see the realities of our program.. but I don’t embrace them.

    Like

  131. Pitt students haven’t embraced this regime. It appears teenagers are smarter than many posters here.

    Like

    1. Having a screen name makes you any less anonymous? It certainly hasn’t made YOU any less inane.

      I am CERTAIN I’ve gone to more Pitt games over the past 20 years than you- despite living 200 miles from Pittsburgh.

      Not buying and embracing mediocrity doesn’t make me less of a fan. Try READING and COMPREHENDING UPitt and Tx_Panther. Maybe you’ll have an epiphany.

      Like

    1. VT is beatable for us…..and we own them. If Pitt wins 6 games with this young team and tough schedule, Narduzzi should get Coach of the Year.

      Like

  134. So, if I go to the Pitt games, and root for the Panthers and donate and support my alma mater, I am accepting, aiding and abetting 3-star mediocrity…

    Shame on me — you just can’t win.

    Go Pitt! (oops!)

    BTW, I went to the games in the Dave Hart era, before Johnny Majors was ever hired, too…

    Like

    1. Nope. Support your team, as I do. Just dont be afraid to expect more.. and demand more.

      Blind Faith is dangerous.. look where it got the Catholic Church.. and Penn State football.

      Like

  135. Large crowd in Miami tonight against VT. Not a rival game but important with the records involved. So winning seems to be part of the criteria? hmmm

    Like

      1. It holds 65K and I’d guess 50K were there tonight. It was a stromg crowd and the U is starting to get fans to notice. Not to mention that remodel is awesome they did. Makes Heinz look like a Stadium for Carlow.

        Like

  137. First, you do not give away 4 tickets for a nationally televised game as it is a lose, lose, lose. If you sell out the game, the national media says attendance is such a problem Pitt had to give out 4 freebies to get folks in the seats. That would be an embarrassment. If Pitt doesn’t sell out, the national media says Pitt is terrible, desperate and people won’t attend even with freebies. Why buy a season ticket plan when you can get freebies? Did you think you might offend the people who actually pay good money for tickets, by giving out free ones? ALL THREE SCENARIOS ARE STUPID!

    If you really want to do this, give the tickets away during a big recruiting visit weekend for a game that is only on ESPN47, via computer. Few will know (national media) except the AD if the freebies are a success or not. In fact, it may even surprise some people and cause people to start buying tickets.

    @Reed – I read and then re-read your post about the Pitt Administration accepting mediocrity and that you are okay with that. That seems to conflict with your statements about Narduzzi not being the guy to get us to the next level. Why should any reader expect 8 wins, 9 wins or even more if we are okay with mediocrity? I am not okay with mediocrity. In fact, mediocrity blows and it makes me think we should hand out participation trophies to our players.

    You can’t wish yourself to greatness. It requires commitment. It requires a plan.

    Like

    1. Spot on Huff….that is a lose lose lose situation.

      Heather seems intent on giving the national media ammo to ridicule Pitt with. Didn’t learn a thing from the Media digs even with the Free Fanta’s.

      Like

  138. Mr Anonymous post:
    Having a screen name makes you any less anonymous? It certainly hasn’t made YOU any less inane.

    “I am CERTAIN I’ve gone to more Pitt games over the past 20 years than you- despite living 200 miles from Pittsburgh.

    Not buying and embracing mediocrity doesn’t make me less of a fan. Try READING and COMPREHENDING UPitt and Tx_Panther. Maybe you’ll have an epiphany.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    First off about attending PITT games and you attending more, it’s possible as I have am not anywhere close to attending all the games the past twenty years. No apologies it’s the simple truth.

    As far as having a screen name sir, I have dared to not only give out my entire name, hometown and to top it all off, my face on the round-table. I also tell everyone where I will be on game-day. (the POV tailgate) So you still contend I’m more anonymous than you. You tell on yourself.

    You’re a message board type so I don’t hold a grudge as that is how we act over in never never land. Calling me insane is your opinion but lets leave that over in never never land. thank you little.. ike

    Like

  139. Huff I agree that the give away should have been done earlier in the season. The idea for this week is like putting lipstick on a bowing ball. … but it at least something.

    I think the key thing here is that the university is recognizing there is a problem at PITT. They need to throw away the band aides and get a football program transplant.

    Like

  143. Pitt brings in a Big 10’er to be AD. She went to Michigan and had a tenure at Ohio Fake. Then eastern michigan. What does she actually know about the ACC ? Answer. Less than everyone on this board.

    Another brilliant Pitt hire ! 🙂

    Like

    1. She couldn’t run the Golden Corral in New Kensington. But that moron Chancellor who knows zero about sports and his committee of 300 people liked her. Comical.

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  146. lol and you’re right Emel. I’m off to my own never never land. I’ve used up my extra hour this evening. Turn out the lights….

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  147. Don’t feed the troll – good advice Emel. Good night Ike, I am going to beddy bye as well. Too old to be out this late drinking but here’s to MSU.

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  148. Ike, just FYI regarding the tailgate: we now use the POV and Bernie’s fabulous new Pitt script flag as our 2 flags. And please ignore the anons of the world. If they have any balls they will come to the tailgate and tell us to our faces what they think…

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  149. Why not say anyone that shows up gets in for free? Pittsburgh Fan Appreciation Night.

    Season ticket holders can’t even give their own tickets away.

    Some pretty good football games yesterday

    Looks like the B1G is out of the playoff unless Wisky wins out. But who knows, Clemson still needs to win out.

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  150. Auburn’s AD just announced this week his intention to step down by the end of the academic year . I will try to make a point of watching how their AD search is run.

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  152. IMO our main problem is our OC and his limitations can’t be fixed. If PN keeps him for 2018 either PN is not smart enough to be a HC (and I don’t think this is the case at all) or he wants a buddy on his staff more than he wants to win or Pitt can’t hire anyone better.

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  153. Ike it is best to ignore trolls but I agree that him/her/little boy in basement was disrespectful to call you “I” even for a troll. Besides if you were known as “I” Reed would not be able to tell you and Inoke apart. 🙂
    My condolences to the Big this morning….oh heck I cant type that with a straight face – OVER-RATED!!!
    Missed the Miami VT game – which provides our best chance at a win?
    LET’S GO PITT, BEAT THE TAR HOLES!!!!

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  154. imo PITTs main problem is they have had 4 different offensive coordinators the past 4 years. So let’s go for 5 years in a row with a new coach.. Always a good idea with young returning QB’s

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  156. I’m starting to feel game week approaching…. In a few short weeks it will all be over…. PITT has to get to a bowl game.. and if they do and the game is in driving distance I’ll make my first bowl game.

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  157. Tough call on a new OC vs continuity. I think if someone who is clearly an upgrade becomes available with the upcoming coaching shuffle pull the trigger and keep Watson as QB coach. However if the team can get to 6-6 this year and the offense continues to show improvement , I might just leave things alone and hope for continued improvement through stability ….

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  158. ^^ Great post Mark. It is a tough call but remember the PITT budget. If PITT can land a really good out of work OC then how long does he stick around? Then it starts over again, 6 in 6 years. The buck has to stop and personally, I’m not even sure how good or bad Watson is yet. PITT doesn’t exactly have Dan Marino at QB.

    Remember PITT hasn’t had the luxury of having a starting QB two years in a row with the same OC under Narduzzi. imo continuity wins out… ike

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  159. Not gonna Lie ….. I am PISSED about the Kenny Pickett handling…

    Faster, (literally) Bigger with a WAY stronger arm…. and does not play ONE SNAP against two teams who absolutely Crap the Bed and give the game to Pitt…

    Just from my, ….. #GutFeeling … Pickett woulda won both the Duke game and Virginia Slop-Fest game with Vigor and HYPED-UP Pitt fans….

    Dunno….but, #HAILTOPITT and hope Pitt wins next week 🙂

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  162. Guys go back to that call OC made a few games back with MB at qb- the option run from what was it the 6 yd line? The one we saw live in slo-mo with the pitch to QO. Can anyone give a possible explanation for that call? Why does this have to be complicated. If the OC does something utterly stupid in a critical situation where there is no explanation other than that the OC is well I’d rather not say it because I am sure he is a nice guy.

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  163. Sorry the last sentence was supposed to be a question. Let me say this differently. If the Alabama OC had called that play what would Nick have done? Would he have said “Darn that was stupid” and just left it at that? I don’t think so. And you know why? The past is the best predictor of the future and Nick would not have wanted to risk that ever happening again.

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  164. Dark One,
    Awesome that you got your bat wings back and are able to fly onto the POV again!!!!!!
    WELCOME BACK!!!!!!

    (Hmmm, interesting……Upitt and DK reappear on the same article…………can it be………….they are……….. one in the same…………….very interesting…………hmmmmmmmm???)

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  165. A new guy, anon, has added to the fodder: suggestion, take a break and go back to the home and garden channel, spare me the ‘insight’. Or just read first and learn, there’s good info here

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  166. @RKB, my opinion on better chance versus Miami or VT having watched most of the game is that VT looks much more winnable IF the QB is as inconsistent as he was last night. Showed inaccuracy and especially when pressured. Both teams looked much more athletic than Pitt overall but especially Miami’s playmakers on offense.

    Key for Pitt versus VT will be d-line making the VT QB have a bad game.

    I don’t see anything specific to attack with Miami on either side. Hope the weather favors Pitt and maybe a continuing to improve Dinucci who will really be pressured and will show absolutely no athletic ability enough to outrun any of Miami’s front line.

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  167. Wow, Upitt AND DK back on the same weekend . …is this an omen? Perhaps the college FB gods will look favorably on our Panthers for the remainder of the season.??? WELCOME BACK BOYS !!!

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