So if you haven’t heard, Pitt is moving forward with an on-campus stadium.  They’ll be using the money from the COVID-19 vaccine they just developed, and which should be just hitting the market in a year.

If only that was true.  The on campus-stadium part I mean.  Yes, this piece is basically a two-day late April fools joke.  Sorry and haha.  Of course we should all be proud of the vaccine, and we should all hope it’s successful.

But back to that On Campus Stadium.  Since I brought it up, we might as well talk about it it.  You know, the cozy little 45,000 seat stadium with lots of character that’s walkable from campus and that Pitt will fill to 90%+ capacity each and every week.   Yea that one.  Lets just say that after they do the feasibility study Gallagher says “Alright lets raid the General Fund and make this happen!”   He sweet talks the BOT and all the sudden Heather is announcing another press conference.  To be clear, none of this is going to happen, but lets just say it does.

The big question is where do you put the damn thing?  Well don’t you worry, because I’ve scouted out four prime locations and provided all the information you need.  Feel free to rip it all to shreds. 

Option 1 – Panther Hollow

The classic option that’s been proposed pretty much since the day they announced Pitt Stadium was being torn down.  Also it’s the least likely to happen.  Politics, expense, history, and Pittsburgh Royalty all stand in the way.  Also Reed was nice enough to send me this article that points out that Pittsburghers love their parks so much so that they actually voted to raise their own taxes to preserve them.

So yea… but anyway here’s where they might put it.  Just knock out a playground and bulldoze a bunch of trees.  Sure, no problem.  At least it’s an easy 20 minute walk from the Towers.

Pros:  Location, location location.  Just imagine Fran’s tailgate next to picturesque Panther Hollow Lake.

Cons:  Not a lot of parking.  Driving there would be next to impossible.  The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.  The Schenleys.

Odds:  Like 1 in 1 million  (So you’re sayin’ there’s a chance!)

Panther Hollow Walk

Panther Hollow Close Up

Option 2:  The Hill

If you follow the Pitt Panther Fanatics Facebook group, this is the idea that they kind of sort of leaked as maybe likely to be part of a feasibility study last year.  Yes a bunch of houses would have to be purchased and knocked down.  Yes residents would be displaced.  Yes, this is about as far from the heart of campus as you can get while still getting away with calling it “on campus”.  But damn it Jim I’m a writer not a city planner, and if you situate that stadium just right everybody but the visiting band will be able to see the Cathedral.  And that’s what New Pitt Stadium is all about right?

Pros:  Sits right next to Victory Heights.  Aforementioned view of Cathedral.  Fans still get to walk up Cardiac Hill.  Lots of space for parking.

Cons:  Fans still get to walk up Cardiac Hill…only they get to walk for 30 minutes instead of 15.  Still kind of tough to get to in a car.

Odds:  Picking odds on this location is more like picking odds that there will be a Stadium at all because it’s tough to see Pitt going with an alternate location.  Now the odds that they will decide to go with a Stadium? I’ll say 1 in 1000 and that’s probably optimistic.

The HillThe Hill Closeup

Option 3:  Hazelwood

Hazelwood?  I can practically hear the entire readership groaning as they read this.  Hazelwood is NOT Oakland.  Hazelwood is NOT walkable.  Hazelwood is NOT where anybody wants to go to watch football.  Well the last part of it might be true, but if look at things objectively, the west end of Hazelwood down by the Mon is actually not a bad location at all.  It’s closer the towers then the Hill location, so that’s one thing. Also the students are walking downhill to get to the games, not up…so that helps solve our attendance problem, right?  It’s right of off the Parkway, and I’d like to think an exit could be built to accommodate.  Of course there is the small problem of the stadium actually being just a bit too long to fit in the available lot, but it’s not like there would be a major overhang onto river.  If it was planned right it could be a nice little pier, and Pitt fans could drive their boats up to it.  The Hazelwood bike trail could be extended over the river as part of this.  I’m telling you this could be NICE.  Well there is one other small detail…Since i’m working off of Google maps and haven’t been to that part of Pittsburgh in many many years, it’s entirely possible that somebody else has leased that land and something else is being built.  I’m sure somebody on this board will know and correct me if that’s the case, but in the meantime i’m going to live in my own little stadium-over-the-river world.

Pros:    Closer to campus then you think.  Students walk downhill to get to games!  Easy!  Bates Street all the sudden becomes prime real-estate because of weekly “Bates Street Bash” during the season.  Easy to get to and from on the highway.  On the river which is cool.  Drive your boat up just like University of Tennessee!  Spitting distance from the UPMC Rooney Sports Performance Complex.  “Hey I can see the Stillers practicing from my club box n’at!”

Cons:  Space may not actually be available and almost certainly won’t be when the Heinz field lease is up.  Even if it was, would there there be enough parking???

Odds:  Low.  Really low.  But hey a dude can dream.

Hazelwood

Hazelwood close up

Option 4:  Portal Place (5th Avenue Curve)

Taking a flyer here, but there is some land right off Fifth Avenue… I think its a hillside (which actually makes for a great, unique stadium) and I think it’s undeveloped.  It’s less than a mile from campus, and it’s a flat walk.  Look, for all I know it’s owned by Carlow College (yes it’s right next to them), but it’s an entcingly logical location for a lot of reasons, which means it will never, ever happen.

Pros:  15 minutes walk from the towers.  Say no more.

Cons:  You’d be displacing Landslide Community Farm, which is pretty not-cool.  You’d have to bulldoze a relatively new luxury apartment building (which I don’t think anyone would care about, except maybe the owners).  The good ladies over at Carlow would probably not love us on Saturdays.

Odds:  1 in one-bazillion.   Goodnight.

Portal PlacePortal Place Closeup

Hail to Pitt

Michaelangelo Monteleone

Michaelangelo holds a degree in Travel Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a former staff writer for InPittsburgh Newsweekly, and currently resides near Atlanta, Georgia. He has been a Pitt fan since 1997 after he witnessed Pitt upset #22 Miami on Thursday night at Pitt Stadium.

206 thoughts on “Where to put The Stadium?”

  1. Once again, Maestro, you have outdone yourself. What a great read as the last I do before changing from my daytime pj’s to my nighttime pj’s.

    Hail to Pitt, Hail to the (please Lord) successful vaccine, and a hearty Hail to MM for a great piece to help me forget about my isolation for awhile.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Hey MM, just to let you know that Carlow is now co-ed, so their guys would probably like it there. I don’t believe they have football there. Maybe we offer them discounted tickets so we can add some of their fannies in the seats!

    Liked by 4 people

  4. Let’s cash in on the PittCoVacc vaccine money first before we bulldoze any buildings. But if this vaccine succeeds then we may be able to bulldoze much of the city with the proceeds.

    Like

  9. M… there is ONE place you failed to mention. That would be the original Complit choice of the area where Frick Fine Arts currently sits.

    That would be my favorite. Putting the NEW Pitt Stadium there would allow fans to look up at the Cathedral which could be emblazoned in LIGHT during games.

    What a statement that would make about Pitt’s commitment to once again being a true BIG-time College Football Program.

    Like

    1. I should add it. Sure let’s move the frock fine arts building… 🤦‍♂️

      Like

  10. you heard it here first ….. the 1st underground stadium

    First off …. how many here know that you can go from Presby to Montiefore with outgoing outside … through a series of corridors and underground tunnels. I traversed it a couple times back in the day.
    Second …. has anyone ever been to the underground mall in Arlington VA?

    This will be literally be a piece of groundbreaking history. And a unique structure that will be the envy of many that everyone who is non-claustrophobic will want to experience. I say we burrow through the side of the hill either near the 5th Ave curve or maybe somewhere above Bigelow Blvd.

    Pros: Walkable from the Towers; very little Oakland surface area used as most of it will be well underground; likely one heck of a home field advantage; can serves as a MPS; and impervious to weather conditions (and Bates St)

    Cons: Expensive to build and maintain but feasible with the all $$$$ raked in from the vaccine

    Odds: 1 in a badzillion badzillion

    Liked by 1 person

    2. I spent many an evening/night in Underground Atlanta. How has that worked out, MM?

      Like

    5. Pitt should patent the vaccine unlike polio. That was a mistake. The US government can pay Pitt billions in an annuity. Pitt can then use these funds for even more goodwill initiatives.

      Tex

      Like

    6. Actually, you could go from western psych all the way over to Montefiore. All of those buildings were inter connected. Falk clinic all the way up to Salk hall, and of course across the bridge to eye and ear and the cancer clinic. The tearing down of Children’s hospital may have cut off Falk, unless they built an underground access. Also, there was an underground tunnel going from Montefiore across the street to some doctors offices there. At least that was how it was from 1990 to 1995. I was an escort at UPMC during those years. I traveled every inch of those hallways.

      Some interesting patients I escorted: Linda Lovelace (cannot remember her real name-transplant) Tammy Wynette (transplant.) Paul Coffey (puck to the eye.) Dermontti Dawson (bone chips removed from elbow.) Tom Tumulty (shoulder.) Bob Johnson (Presby had one of only two Cobalt Gamma Radiation machines in the country at the time. His brain tumor was so deep it was his only chance.)

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      1. Also…On the day Governor Casey was to be discharged, i was in charge of the patient elevator on his wing. His security team gave me the eta for his departure and informed me I was to be the only one of the hospital staff to be on the elevator and escorting him. The floor he was on had a lot of gorgeous nurses who were very full of themselves. They would put a patient in a wheelchair whose room was five feet from physical therapy, wheel them down the hall in the opposite direction to the nurses desk. Then call us to come transport the patient to physical therapy. So at the moment of discharge one of these nurses is talking to and wheeling the governor onto the elevator. His security guy looked at me in puzzlement and motioned to go ahead. When we got to the ground floor and stepped off I was expecting to take over, but the nurse kept going. I soon realized why. As we rounded the corner, there was an explosion of camera flashes and the bright lights of all the news cameras from around the state. For some reason, I had not thought that far ahead and was taken aback. That nurse sure expected it. Sure enough, there she was on all the news channels wheeling him to the door and then bending down to kiss him on the cheek! I couldn’t have been more relieved and I sure wasn’t going to be giving any good-bye kisses!

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  14. So while we are all dreaming this morning, thankfully still breathing…

    To add to the dream, the Hill would be made more accessible by the new multi-billion dollar infrastructure project to run the T from town out Center Avenue to Sliberty and points east. Of course a giant indoor escalator would be needed to transport students up and over Cardiac Hill, making everything along the way more accessible, until personal hovercraft become the rage around 2040.

    UPMC would help finance the new indoor stadium and outfit it so that can be easily converted to a field hospital for the next pandemic.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. P.S. – if they are going to break ground for Victory Heights in 2021, why can’t hey dig a little deeper for the underground stadium?

      Like

  16. Pitt Women’s BB just added a transfer from New Mexico.
    Jayla Everett, a sophomore 5-10 guard, was a top 100 national recruit out of HS in St. Louis.

    Everett was named the 2018-19 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, averaging 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. However last season she left the team during the season.

    Also, Pitt guard Kyla Nelson is transferring out. Kyla is a good 3-point shooter but would have struggled for playing time.

    In another development, Alayna Gribble is transferring to St. Joe’s and is going to play again. She had suffered a couple of concussions at Pitt and had been placed on a medically-out status, which meant she could not play again for Pitt.

    Anyway, the coaches still hard at it trying to improve the team…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. GC – I would add, maybe several reversible escalators up/down Cardiac Hill, instead of 1 big one. And multiple sky bridges from the tops of the towers, and residence halls over to the escalators. It doesn’t make sense to me to have all those hung over students crossing over 5th Ave at the same time on Sat AM.

    My 2nd preference relates to my idea a couple years ago, when I proposed constructing an MPC on top of the Mon, accessible by boat.

    Except my feasibility study has shown it to be much more feasible to construct 20k permanent bleachers on each side of the Mon (above the flood level!), and then build a FLOATING FB FIELD for games on the river (doubt if a 4 hour delay in boat traffic would hurt anything). The field would be built in 40-50 detachable and stackable sections, and stored in a riverside warehouse. On Friday nights, while everybody is enjoying HS FB, the field could be erected over night. The players and staffs could enjoy a brief boat ride out to the field for the game.

    And, the tarps we were going to use for the upper decks at Heinz, could be set in place behind each upright to catch errant FGs!

    And no one has to suffer sitting in End Zone seats!

    And, once the river freezes over, we have a home for our new HOCKEY team – with 40K seating!! Can you say NCAA Hockey Championship host arena?

    Like

    1. I have always thought that pedestrian bridges over Fifth and Forbes would make for a much better campus feel along with improving safety. In fact they could be elevated Plazas, giving additional places for studentsto congregate and a park like setting in addition to the Cathedral lawn. It would give Pitt a much better campus feel.

      Also great places to hang banners to let travelers know they are on Pitt’s Campus.

      Should have been done decades ago.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. Alternatively, excavate a long section of 5th to run below grade and cover it with green space.
        Kind of like this:

        https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kanawha+Plaza/@37.5364857,-77.4395686,373m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89b111095799c9ed:0xbfd83e6de2423cc5!2sRichmond,+VA!3b1!8m2!3d37.5407246!4d-77.4360481!3m4!1s0x89b11116476f689f:0x6473080c829dc279!8m2!3d37.5366955!4d-77.4395397?hl=en

        One could do that intermittently between Beellfield and Lothrup.

        DOes nothing for stadium prospects, but would improve campus feel and maybe thru-traffic flow.

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        1. Perfect as part of the new infrastructure stimulus bill. Write your local politicians and call your senators.

          And Pitt could also partially finance the MPC with the new found monies.

          When unemployment hits 30 percent, America will need to put people back to work fast.

          Pragmatic infrastructure projects are the answer.

          Tex

          Like

  18. I have mentioned the bottom of Bates before, what Maestro refers to as Hazelwood, as a possible stadium site. In my plans I envision an overhead enclosed shuttle lift system from Oakland to the bottom of the hill to take the students for the games and to shuttle students to/from the South Side.

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  19. —So, which entrepreneurs out there are going to be first to market “Hail to Pitt” everyday face masks?

    —Would be a good time for the highly paid coaches at Pitt to announce that they will take a significant pay cut for this year…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. yea, all 2 of them

      but still, I’m sure they are much higher paid than Drs Gambotto and Falo

      BTW, in case you missed it, Capel provided lunches yesterday to the staff at the Hillman Center

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Well Pitt will have roughly a $25 million dollar deficit running sports this year. That would bankrupt most schools.

      Tex

      Like

  22. There are a few other sites

    1) VA hospital
    2) existing Pete
    3) Frick

    CompLit, John Mack, and myself suggested Frick. Frick would be moved to the heart of schenley plaza, on rollers, about 100 yards away. From an engineering perspective, it’s very feasible so say those we spoke with

    The hillside between the maz wall and frick would be cut into. The elevation drop is probably at least 100 feet. Below sits about 40 homes from the 50’s. And a existing parking lot.

    Those homes could all be purchased much like what Jerry Jones did to build his Death Star. And well above market. A 45k venue will fit in this location with the north end open to the cathedral. Or at least a glass section that can open and close if the venue is to have a retractable roof.

    In addition, there are existing train tracks used commercially and those tracks could be used to shuttle fans parking remotely at the hot metal bridge.

    Tex

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    1. Existing Pete. 👍. They could easily come up with another spot for a basketball arena. The spot is perfect for a football stadium. The return of Cardiac Hill….

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  23. Thanks MM for the good thoughts during this horrendous time. I envision KOing the Pete and putting up a multipurpose stadium on that location. We already own the land.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Great article, Michaelangelo! I’ll weigh in with my two best options: Frick site is already Pitt owned property, so moving Frick plus excavation to go partly below ground level would be offset by little/no site acquisition costs. My second choice is to buy out CMU’s stadium. Pitt could expand/upgrade it and lease it back to CMU for 20 years to give them a playing option with better facilities and no maintenance. Both these options would include a retractable roof for use for concerts, ice hockey, etc.

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    1. Multi purpose is the way to go

      Need future homes for lacrosse and hockey

      As well as a place for big NCAA events like March madness, frozen 4, etc

      Stade Pierre mauroy concept…configurable seating, retractable roof, and rolling hydraulic playing surface.

      Tex

      Like

    1. It would be artificial turf yes. But the playing surface is safer than real turf. Vast majority of pro teams have it. And don’t forget retractable roof. It won’t be a dome. I hate those. Plus much natural light from large glass sections.

      And I’d replace sweet Caroline with lean on me for the pitt 12th man.

      When you need a friend
      When you need a win
      When you need a score

      Like

  26. I’ve always championed the idea of converting the CMU stadium into the new PITT stadium. I think there could be a partnership that could benefit both schools. Erect the stands straight up over the existing building and cover the stadium with a retractable roof. Parking would be another issue other than the fact CMU wouldn’t want to do this. Make it worth their while. BTW, did I mention I know nothing about architecture and engineering.

    Run the T to Oakland, widen Bates Street and shut down Bigelow Blvd. Put 5th Ave underground for a few blocks as well. Boom…….. My brand new son Tex will be the engineering designer on these projects.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Great, my adopted Grandson will take care of it then. That makes 8 for me. You can be in charge of the over-all operations Tex.

        Like

    2. They would have to schedule around our schedule. They would not like that. Or when both teams are home play a double header. 😉

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  27. Nice gem, MM. I love the pie-in-the-sky articles like:
    Pitt wins national championship!
    Record number of 5* players signed!
    Pitt closes season undefeated!
    Capel wins NCAA!

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Capel top assistant Tim O’Toole is being considered for Fordham HC. He is an NYC area native, former HC at Fairfield, as well assistant at Fordham, Seton Hall and Duke. One of the other top candidates is Steve Lavin..

    If he goes, would like to see another assistant with NYC connections … maybe even former Pitt player/asst Orlando Antigua. Yes, he was caught with his hands in the cookie jar at USF a few years back, but it was n’t anything compared to what’s going on these days. On the other hand, Capel is well connected, and if he knows of a young hot-shot recruiter — good! (and there is always Jason Richards)

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Is there anyone who thinks that PITT has a friend in the city of Pittsburgh or the neighborhood of Oakland? Even UPMC for that matter. They all treat PITT like crap. I don’t think PITT could get a variance for a slow down for students sign from Pittsburgh or Oakland.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. the Pittsburgh politicians can all rot in hell. Pitt and Oakland have been neglected since the beginning of time. It’s a Nitter conspiracy.

      Tex on the grassy knoll

      Like

  30. Feeling a bit of pride today- Dr. Louis Falo is from my hometown neighborhood- Southwest Greensburg. We went to the same elementary school (Catholic), then I went to public school and I think he went to Greensburg Central Catholic. He is a year or 2 younger than me. Woo Hoo!!

    Liked by 5 people

      1. Hey Wlat, 1776 was in South Greensburg, pretty good roast beef samies but not as good as Garner’s. < Also in South Greensburg. Born and raised in Southwest Gbg but a true blue 5th warder.

        Liked by 1 person

          1. Great late night diner. Do you remember the South Greensburg Restaurant? Best fish sandwiches from here to heaven at the time. Still on Broad Street. I could do this all day.

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  32. Someone has to throw a wet towel on this. Many great thoughts on location but it was UPMC that may have come up with the vaccine. UPMC is not affiliated with PItt at all; especially financially. Heck read their legal pleading from several years ago they have “no employees”. Boy whoever sold the Pitt on campus medical service to the independent company ie sold its nam;e got fleeced worse than 24 beads for Manhattan. This is why it will never happen, Pitt has no forward thinking leaders. The Hazelwood site I believe got sold from under out noses. The only way to have it backed and pushed by Peduto would be for all fans attending the game have to ride a bicycle to the game; yes even up Cardiac Hill. I would die on a bike on Cardiac HIll on the way to my first game at the new OCS – a con. All that said, dream on everybody!! It all we got!!

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Wrong, the University of Pittsburgh Center of Vaccine Research did the research and came up with this vaccine candidate. Google the story rkb first before you come here with misstatements on this project.

      Liked by 1 person

    4. I’m pretty certain that the federal grant money that funds much if not all of this research is awarded to the University research team.

      Liked by 1 person

  33. I look at that PITT Stadium pic and think “ there Nowsits a basketball court.” Heck, the basketball court used to be in the bowels of that grande ole stadium… time to swallow the BB court with a new PITT Stadium…..

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  35. Since the UPMC-Pitt entity is going to see a gazillion dollars from developing their new delivery system that will cure all future diseases, I think we should get all George Jetson with the new stadium. Build a spire that rises above everything and put the stadium on top. Sort of like the Seattle space needle. That way when we all chant “P-E-N-N-S-T sucks” they will be able to hear and see us in Creepy Valley!”

    Seriously, go UPITT researchers!! Stay safe all!

    Like

  36. The delivery system is not a Pitt invention. The microneedle array drug delivery system has been around for a very long time. Pitt may have modified this system slightly however to accommodate this vaccine candidate. Again just google microneedle array drug delivery for the complete story. Wikipedia also has a good synopsis on this technology.

    Like

    1. Thanks for the information- very interesting stuff!! However, the post was meant to be humorous. I never said they invented it. I don’t expect them to receive a gazillion dollars nor cure all future diseases. Any modifications they made would qualify it as new. They certainly seemed to be excited by it since they touted it all over the news and submitted it for peer review. Nonetheless, thank you for qualifying the process.

      Like

    1. Well if recruiting becomes regionalized, then conferences will as well. Welcome back Hoopies and Nitters.

      Tex

      Like

  39. Ridiculous. Watch how quickly things get back to normal.

    Now, of course, there will be SOME modifications to the human experience in the U.S.

    But, college sports recruiting won’t be one of them.

    Like

  40. PittofDreams
    March 11, 2020 at 6:05 pm
    At the risk of sounding political… Virus SO OVER-rated.

    According to the CDC… TYPICAL symptoms for 98 or so percent who come in contact… Fever 100 POINT 4 degrees Fahrenheit… Cough… Shortness of breath.

    I feel worse than that after most Pitt Basketball Games.

    Like

    1. You can talk about the virus but I will shut down anything that is remotely political. This can stand for now

      Like

      1. Thank you Mike. Hard not to talk about the potentially biggest crisis of our lifetime and I am hopefully going to be 70 in a couple of weeks. Definitely difficult to untie the politics, but I agree with the policy.
        Everyone is searching for the truth and these are difficult times to find it. Facts are hard to ignore, people are dying, our economy is in trouble and everyone wants to know how and when things will return to “normal”. Unfortunately these things appear to be unknowable at this point in time.

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  41. PittofDreams
    March 12, 2020 at 11:11 am
    gc… SERIOUSLY?

    The Corona Virus is basically SARS… and yes there is a vaccine.

    Just a matter of getting ALL the ducks in a row and get things under control.

    In a month or so this will all be another Y2K with a little more HYSTERIA!

    POD, Still making predictions?

    Hope MM doesn’t view this as political. Just the facts. As we sit hunkered down in our houses.

    Like

  43. A WWII soldier carrying a donkey. Because the field is mined & if the donkey was free, it would likely detonate a charge & kill everyone. So during difficult times the first ones you have to keep under control are the jackasses who don’t understand the danger & do as they please.

    Unfortunately the photo didn’t copy, but people need to follow directions.

    Social distancing appears to be working in Allegheny County. Only 2 deaths as of yesterday.

    But not everyone is listening, go to Lowes which is a circus.

    Hoping our POV friends and family in the hot spots are hunkered down and safe.

    Liked by 2 people

  44. I am totally hunkered gc…but one of my friends and close neighbor works at Lowes.
    Avoiding him like the plague.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ike, way back when Little Feat played for one of the Hillman girls (Annette’s) birthday party up in Squirrel Hill. They were just hitting the big time nationally but it was a short jump to PGH from DC where they originated.

      Like

      1. From the Hillman Center family? Yep, Little Feat way way way under-rated. Good to hear from you Reed, hope all is well down in beautiful Columbia Md.

        Like

    1. You guys give me a hearty chuckle when you remind me when I misspelled my three letter screen name. 🙂

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  49. On the subject of the virus, one of my pet peeves has been the insistence of medical scientists to conduct blind or double blind clinical trials before accepting or recommending a treatment. I presume this means splitting the volunteers into two groups with one being a control group receiving nothing more than a placebo. Imagine enrolling your sick child into a trial for a medication that is showing significant promise. Sadly, three months later your child dies. Three months after that the research team announces that the medication was found to be wildly successful, with a 100% survival rate. That would be crushing to you. I get the feeling that the “scientist” conducts trials in this way because he/she feels the need to announce definitively that a treatment was found to be some precise number, say 78.3%, more effective than no treatment.

    The alternative? Let engineers run the study and give all volunteers the new medication. The engineer says to use the general population as the “control group”. In the case of the current virus, you have a million members of the control group worldwide or over 100,000 if you want to confine it to the U.S. Give 2000 volunteers the new medication and compare it to 2000, 10000, or some statistically significant number of known patients/victims of the disease. Sure you would need to gather detailed data on those people — age, weight, gender, race, underlying medical conditions, etc., But Tex, Huff, and Pitt-Cocks could do that on 10,000 people in a week. (Or make it up in 5 minutes. Kidding, kidding!). Obviously there is less “control” with this method. Assumptions would have to be made on the lack of data on some of the group, e.g., some were alcoholics or drug addicts. The engineer sees that as variance.

    At the end of the study, the engineer would be able to announce that the new medication was found to be 70-80%, or 65-85% effective rather than 78.3%. But the bottom line – Use It! – would be the same and you wouldn’t have made 1000 volunteers go through six months of getting nothing and suffering the consequences.

    Liked by 2 people

    2. You just don’t know what the side effects might be, or the correct (most effective) dosage if you don’t do trials. On the other hand, my dad was a sheet metal worker and made cages for Dr. Salk’s monkeys. Salk told him he got the correct vaccine, and my older sister was one of the first kids to get it.

      Like

  50. OT, wonder how many non Pitt fans have a negative impression of the university based on past dealings with UPMC.

    Like

    2. Mixed emotions here. UPMC is the state’s largest employer which is generally viewed as good. They have allegedly taken over some financially troubled health systems, again a good thing.

      But … they have the rep of being a bottom-lined corp, generally not good for a healthcare institution and especially a non-profit. A few doctors had left for other employers due to their bottom-line practices. And of course, some of their takeovers resulted in job losses which is probably common.

      I had worked in the UPMC system for > 5 years … 2001-2006 …. and I have mixed emotions. I never met a doctor or nurse who wasn’t dedicated to their profession or patients. UPMC generally is a financially sound healthcare institution providing quality healthcare, but rarely rate among the best in any specific clinical area. And I have heard and witnessed some things that I have shaken my head at … mostly on a corporate level, one IMO was particularly disgusting.

      Full disclosure …. I have a bias since I eventually lost my job because UPMC decided to fully take over my department despite the fact that I just have had two success years of EXCELLENT job performance reviews (I assure you I’m not lying here), My perspective new boss who was just hired from a non-healthcare environment granted me a 5 minute interview in which he had no information about me in front of him … just my name and position title.

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    1. I read the article about the press teleconference the PSU Athletic Director called to discuss their plans and options to ensure they can get a football season in. I didn’t think of the contrast until your post, pittdad. Thanks.

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    2. Pitt saving the world. Again.

      Meanwhile the ‘we are’ crowd to the north is trying to figure out what color to wear to the next white out.

      And, the ‘we is’ crowd 75 miles south is sheltering in the cabin necking with their sister cousin.

      Sound about right.

      Liked by 3 people

      2. I was always sick living in Pittsburgh. Surrounded by Nitters and Hoopies. Had to move to Texas to find a cure. Burnt orange is the antidote.

        Tex

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    1. Setting a good example, gc.

      (California leads the nation in many things. Lots of their stuff is wacky, but lots is good too. )

      Go Pitt

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  53. Went to stock up on some beer with a couple cases. Called the local beer dist gave them my credit card #, pulled up, hit the back hatch button and the beer was deliver in the back. Shut that back gate and pulled away. Zero social contact. You won’t catch me out there. I order most of our supplies via the internet. Online service “Boxed” is pretty good, also bought some Kansas City prime steaks, melt in your mouth, all delivered on my front porch. We can work it out…

    Liked by 2 people

  55. Just like with the predictions of leading scientists including Anthony Fauci, the science has changed and the predictions have changed.

    Widely understood at this point that it is all due to MISINFORMATION coming from the SOURCE of the virus.

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    1. then why haven’t I been able to buy sanitizer for the past 5 weeks now? I know that anything you hear from China and Russia must be taken with a grain of salt but I swear I have been reading / hearing from the health community and immunologists for nearly 2 months now that this will be much worse than any of the previous viruses. About the only thing I see differently is that many more young people are dying than originally thought.

      BTW, did you see that China is shipping ventilators to NYC?

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        1. BTW… have personal knowledge of someone in their 60s getting the virus and benefiting from hydroxychloroquine.

          Within 24 hours went from feeling ill to making FULL recovery.

          No illusion on the effects of the drug.

          Liked by 2 people

          2. Weird. Maybe it’s case by case but glad to hear. My brother’s girlfriend is an ER resident in NYC and according to him she’s saying it doesn’t work. With that being said… at this point anything that improves chances just a little or saves just one life is worth a try. Glad to hear it worked for them

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  56. Still believe we’ll get back to “normal” quicker than many pessimists think.

    This coming from someone living in one of the HOT Zones.

    People already chomping at the bit.

    Resilient people those Americans.

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  58. Farmers — one alternative for testing the safety of the virus would be to give Scooter the highest dose possible, that would surely prove it was safe.
    No?

    😊

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  59. Please note that vaccine is different from medicine. Vaccine is pretty much a preventative measure whereas antibody medicine can hopefully help cure those already afflicted. I assume however that if someone is in the early stage of affliction, that vaccine can be effective.

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    1. True, Bill. Getting a vaccine versus a placebo is not as big an issue. I was thinking more of the hydroxychoroquine and remdesivir trials.

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  60. Former Pitt guard Trey McGowens settled on his new home Saturday when he announced on his Twitter page his intention to transfer to Nebraska.

    Good place for him, on a team that won 7 games total last year. (7-25) (2-18) in Bigoverrated 10

    Overrated 10 is slower and less athletic show he should do better like Carr did for Minnesota.

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  61. That’s very ironic, cause X was signed with Nebraska before they hired a new coach (Fred Hoiberg) and then Capel flipped him. And now the Cornfritters get McGowens.

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  62. ^^ More ironic is that McGowens may have to sit out this year catching him up with his senior year he past up by declaring early.

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  63. I’ve seen a few posts lately (not all of which were on the POV) touting Pitt’s contributions to the fight against the Pandemic. And then, blasting psux for their “less than pandemic self-interests”. Personally, I find such practice repugnant, and lacking in knowledge of current events.

    I recently read a white paper discussing a Penn State team of Bovine Epidemiologists whose 32 year research project is about to result in the release of a vaccine to eliminate Mad Cows’ Disease! 🤒😉

    Liked by 2 people

  64. We can hope Trey has one of his 30-point games and leads the Cornhuskers to a win against the Nits… 👍

    (Having said that, Trey McGowens sure doesn’t have the look or demeanor of a “cornhusker”…)

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  65. Just back from grocery store N of Baltimore. About 30% had masks and few worried about 6 foot distance. Shelves were 40% bare.

    I think Trey will be an upgrade for Nebraska. I’ve seen them play 3-4;x. He will have a lot more freedom to move in that offense. They run a straight 1-4 motion. I noticed that Capel went almost exclusively to the 1-4/halfway thru the season. I love the Flex offense but you need shooters to run it. Pitt had none.

    Pitt is getting huge pub down here for the Vaccine strides. Article today titled Hail to Pitt on Fox.
    Hope we win this one! With my wife’s sis moving in full time our house has shrunk to the size of a pup tent. Needless to say my Lenten boos quarantine is over.

    Hope all of you are well and being safe. I heard today that NCAA Football May move to next Spring. I would watch raptly a girls tidily winks match!

    H2P

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Dan your self imposed Lenten quarantine should have come to a halt for health reasons, which reminded me. So about the beer run……. I first called inquiring if they were open and they said yes, they told me they are considered a life sustaining business. Hmm….. that made me laugh out loud.

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  66. ^^ Based on the above information I’m thinking the state of Maryland will become the next hot spot. Hope you picked up all the masks you could or were allowed. Take great care my friend! … and al of you. iek.

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  67. About 70 percent have masks here in the DFW retail stores. I see good social distancing. I’d buy a Pitt mask if produced. I’m using a fleece like material my mother made. Heavy weight. Mustard yellow. My entire face is covered. My head is topped with something Pittsburgh. As a non licensed medical professional who reads medical journals and is probably more informed than the typical Nitter, let’s not ‘open’ up too soon.

    Tex

    Liked by 1 person

        1. and to think that I was proud of myself for making 3 masks for personal use from old hospital scrubs

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        2. So far I’ve made 20, and have fabric for 18 more cut out. I found a cool pattern that uses pipe cleaners to fit the nose area and a little pouch in the back that you can add a filter into it. It takes longer to make them, but I think they will be better in the long run. Stay home and stay safe everyone!!

          Liked by 2 people

  69. Thinking with no sports to watch.

    Now is the time for virtual avatar football. Each team would input their players talent level based on their last NFL draft records and previous NFL player game stats into a secret NFL quantum super computer. Coaches would call every offense and defense play including what players to play and where.

    We would all curse and yell that it was not real but we would probably all watch anyway. Vegas would love it,

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  70. You know, looking at the picture of the Ole PITT stadium makes me so sad. Yes it had become quite the dump and antiquated only due to lack of attention. I still wish they would have ripped out the old bleachers, excavated all that dirt underneath, replaced the dirt with modern office space and updated the concession stands and restrooms. That place was iconic.

    Liked by 3 people

  72. The next country that is going to be experiencing a huge issue that noone is talking about on any basis is Mexico. The Corona beer comment jogged my thinking about their hospital systems(poor) and a bunch of other habits (poor) and the need for medical professionals which will occur very soon, and vaccines. Going to be disastrous in a lot of ways in 2-3 weeks.

    Talks heating up about football season and academic year in higher ed. Many small privates will be in trouble.

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    1. If that does happen, Huff, I would think it would put a serious damper on the hopes of the spring increase in temps and/or UV rays being a major factor in ending the virus spread.

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    2. Mexico is a ticking time bomb. I expect Texas to explode within 30 days. It will make New York look like the Jets.

      Tex

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  73. Looking at that ole PITT Stadium pic- she was filled to the max,,, nearly 60,000 butts in the bleachers…. guess everyone found somewhere to park in those days,

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    1. ….WTAE-TV traffic reporting that cars are STILL backed up on the Bates Street ramp! 🙂

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    2. Exactly. And these days there are actually more ‘parking’ options from Uber to remote parking and shuttles. And a new venue would have 15k less seating or about 5000 fewer vehicles. The parking issue is overblown. There are pragmatic solutions to address this minor inconvenience.

      Tex who paved paradise.

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      1. Hope the Uber driver can handle my tables, chairs, flagpoles, grill, cooler and other paraphernalia. I know they can’t handle Fran’s. Although I would pay good money to see them driving down the street with Fran’s flagpole sticking out of their sunroof. Complete with the POV flag flapping in the breeze.

        Liked by 2 people

          1. The thing is that everyone talks about having games if quarantine is still in effect. The good news is that at Heinz you can just put all 35,000 ppl that show up in every other seat and the mission is accomplished!

            Liked by 1 person

  75. Pittsburgh and Oakland should be ashamed of themselves over that crappy road to a major university.

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    1. I was scared when I first saw it as a freshman. It does deter Nitters from entering Oakland though.

      Tex

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  76. My wife found Pitt material to make masks from. Unfortunately it’s not the old block lettering but it will have to do.
    PittPT

    Liked by 1 person

  77. Just heard bandanas will suffice on occasion…good thing I never threw away my colors when I hung with the Crips.

    Liked by 2 people

  81. If this coming football season is canceled (i think it will be) will Pickett finally get his red-shirt?

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  82. In that case, I guess they will have to allow for an expanded college roster for the following year? And for how long? I suppose when you look at all the confusion they will have to try and play some sort of semblance of a season?

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    1. Well I saw a model yesterday where “the first wave” is pretty much under control by the end of the summer. So it’s possible they just push the season back a month. Not maybe lop off a couple of non-cons

      I agree skipping the entire season adds a lot of logistical issues…

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      1. if its pushed back a month, the it’s possible that only league games will be played. That’s an 8 game schedule for the ACC

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  83. I don’t want Pickett to get an extra year. I want to see what the Davis Beville hype is all about before he transfers.
    PittPT

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    1. Totally agree with your comment Mark. I want to see some other talent up there… In fact, it is my opinion that if the student has his degree it’s time to MoveOn… Need to get off of the university dole. Lotta kids are going to that school who work their asses off and take loans to be able to get their PITT degrees….Once an athlete has his degree – mission accomplished! Has Chuck Noll once said Reference to Terry Bradshaw “Time to get on with life’s work.”

      Liked by 1 person

  84. I don’t see it being practical to try to have fans at games until you have a vaccine. At least that holds for old geezers like me.

    I’m in the category of over 70 with cardiovascular disease. From what I’ve read, the data says that if someone like me gets the coronavirus, we have over a 10% chance of dying… Not good odds, IMHO…

    Guess I’ll have to watch from home. Hold on, I don’t get the ACC network… (Hummm…)

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Definitely not worth going to a Pitt game if you have a 10% chance of dying. Now an Alabama game… (kidding kidding). Totally 100% agree with you John

      Liked by 1 person

  85. spring football might make the most sense
    if Fall, you might have to limit the number of fans at games and tailgates
    every region of the country will be different with the curve
    should have a Pitt vaccine by spring

    and I always hated that track around Pitt stadium
    and now Pitt track and field has been without one since 1999

    Liked by 2 people

  86. I had the flu a few years ago even though I had a flu shot. I cannot imagine things being remotely normal without a Covid-19 vaccine.

    Liked by 1 person

  87. Alright, Angie went out for the last time this morning and brought home our final rations for the next month or longer. No more going out….. Of course I’m wearing out the UPS driver’s legs with online ordering.

    Check out Piast, very reasonable and they have a great Easter special. Goldbelly is good to but a little more pricey. Boxed is also good but they are running out of the essentials.

    I’ve been watching Fox News, sorry Dr Tom and Pat, and it’s all about the virus. My wife said she is sick of the downer news to put on the local news. I had a good chuckle about that.

    We need some live sports about now. Hell, I’m even willing to watch a Pirates game which I swore I would never do again. I’m starting to get mood swings around here and thank God for Eli “the Lucky”….. Oh wait a minute….. maybe as it turns out. He’s not so lucky?

    Liked by 2 people

  88. as expected, it appears that golf will be the first sport to start back up. Just heard on the radio that the PGA is planning to …

    — return in mid June with The Memorial (no fans)
    — reschedule the US Open to September
    — Ryder Cup one week later
    — PGA in August or Oct
    — Masters in Nov

    The British Open is cancelled

    all tentative of course

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  92. Are Pitt coaches still getting paid? I’d love to permanently furlough Narduzzi. 🤠

    Tex

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  93. The daily dread on TV of corona virus updates is getting so bad that I turned back to local news for some more uplifting accounts of fires, shootings, drug busts and car accidents. Never thought it would come to this.

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  96. Joe is most likely drinking a cup of joe and Micky no doubt is raising HELL……… up in Heaven. If anyone wants to read a book about #7, find Ball Four written by Jim Bouton.

    Liked by 1 person

  97. Ike, I read Ball Four when it was published..
    Laughed out loud.
    Loved the stuff about Sal Maglie making up swear words.

    Liked by 1 person

  98. Back in the early 70s at college, Ball 4 sat on our coffee table in our apartment and was read and discussed by me and roommates.

    Does anyone remember what Bouton claimed to be the best pep talk ever? Hint … it was delivered by a former Pirate

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    1. Third Basemen – Don Hoak as manager of a AAA minor league team. I read the book & that’s the only thing I remember.

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  100. VoR, Goldbelly is an online food emporium, they are also swamped by requests. Just google Goldbelly.com it comes up. They sell everything and drop it off at your front door. Beats going out in this mess.

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