in Pitt Football 1,248 Words

Well, The Roof Just Caved In…

Amateurism in the collegiate ranks is dead and will soon be buried. The highest court in the land just ruled that sports are no longer playing games but is now actual employment for the student/professionals.

The Supreme Court of the United States unanimously affirmed a ruling Monday that provides for an incremental increase in how college athletes can be compensated and also opens the door for future legal challenges that could deal a much more significant blow to the NCAA’s current business model.

Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the court’s opinion, which upheld a district court judge’s decision that the NCAA was violating antitrust law by placing limits on the education-related benefits that schools can provide to athletes. The decision allows schools to provide their athletes with unlimited compensation as long as it is some way connected to their education.

Even though I agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling I do think it is sad that a whole wonderful and simple way of life in collegiate sports has now been completely lost. The beginning happened as soon as cable TV came on the scene and the big TV revenues were no longer restricted to the more popular “Big Dog” programs (Notre Dame, USC, Ohio State, Penn State, etc.) who played live on TV at 1:00 pm Saturday afternoons with Keith Jackson calling the plays.

However soon even crappy schools were getting big paydays through their conference TV contracts and that is when things started to change. Soon every school and its brother were getting kickbacks from ESPN. From there it just grew and grew.

Honestly, for me, what made college football magical is that it was accessible to almost every person at almost any time. If you were a student at Pitt you could walk into the Pitt Stadium stands with your friends during varsity football practice and watch the kids play out there and see the coaches coaching them. pitt-panthers-football-ticket_1_4bdb03bb5696a0e95ae2c10f5193a691Regular people could actually walk up to the stadium window and buy a ticket for that day’s game without having to take loans out for seat licenses (extortion IMO) and breaking the bank while doing so. Price to watch the National Champ Panthers in ’76? $7.00…

Football wasn’t dissected and micro-managed to the nth degree as it is now. When the game was over you either went to a bar, your dorm or home and then got on with your week ahead.

When you walked into a dorm you saw some of the players you had just seen out on the field. You sat next to them in class and ate with them in the cafeteria.

You might have envied them because they were getting a free ride on tuition and room & board but you knew they were just like you but with a talent specific to them. They were no better or worse than any other student when it came down to it.

Forget about that now – it has changed in ways that are almost unrecognizable to fans of a certain age. Back in the day a player might have some bucks slipped to them by a booster (Dorsett drove a Lincoln Continental and had $1,145 in Oakland streets parking tickets that somehow got paid when that was made public…”He’s an All-American scofflaw,” Angela Marasco, chief clerk of the city traffic court, said at the time.” ).

But that was Dorsett. The other 90+ players on the roster were pretty much regular students, especially when they actually went to class. They certainly weren’t on the University of Pittsburgh’s payroll like the current Panthers are about to be.

Does this bit mean all will be tied into academic performance and not what the athlete does on the field of play?

“Athletes playing Division I men’s or women’s basketball or Bowl Subdivision football will be able to receive benefits from their schools that include cash or cash-equivalent awards based on academics or graduation.

Among the other benefits that schools also can offer are scholarships to complete undergraduate or graduate degrees at any school and paid internships after athletes have completed their collegiate sports eligibility.”

Is the ‘pay’ to players based not on their athletic abilities but on “academics or graduation” standards and is paid out as either cash or more scholarship opportunities??? Who makes those criteria for standards applied in this case – the NCAA? The Conferences? The schools themselves?

Gee, won’t it be fun to see what West Virginia deems the standard for a player to be academically eligible for a salary. Maybe the accountants will start with this: if a WVU player can actually find the classroom they are supposed to have been in attendance all semester without having to ask for help, they will get the Federal minimum wage to start.

Inquiring minds want to know…

However things are laid out will we see a bunch of D1 athletes working harder in the classrooms to get the higher pay involved? Or is it that they have to meet a set standard of academic achievement to meet the “pay” criteria at all?

I can’t help but wonder about all the undergrad research assistants who work on the projects that UPMC will make tons of money on when the project is successful and monetized. Are those students (who might not even be on scholarship) not in exactly the same position that the athletes are? Their efforts result in money earned by a formal institution without them seeing a single cent so shouldn’t they get compensated just as players will now be?

Who knows what is in the future, but for me this is just another nail in the coffin lid of what was once a pleasant and enjoyable hobby – and that is what being a fan is supposed to be. Following the team and attending games should not be something that you bust your ass for to be able to afford, but should be one of the things one spends some hard earned money on because they like it as something fun to do.

Say goodbye to that my friends because lets be honest here – who in Hell do you think is going to pay those monies to the college athletes? It won’t be the NCAA or the Supreme Court or even the school themselves. No – it will be the fans who pony up via higher ticket prices and increased “club” fees along with higher prices for everything else related to the football programs.

I can see it now…

Narduzzi: C’mon Pitt fans , we need another 4* defensive line star and that salary won’t come cheap. Time to show us how much you really love the team.

Fan: What can we do coach? How can we help…?

Narduzzi: The very best fans can run out and buy even more season tickets and don’t forget to up your Pitt gear purchases either. That way you can brag to your friends that you are paying a 1,000th share of the next Pitt All-American nose guard. Regular fans can try to donate at least something you skinflint bastards. The last thing we Pitt family members want is a reduction of my salary to pay the players. That just wouldn’t be right.

I know this is the way of the world now and as I said above I agree with the Court’s decision in this matter. I just wish all we had to think about and do was just enjoy Pitt football without all the minutiae of everything else involved.

 

234 thoughts on “Well, The Roof Just Caved In…”

  1. I heard the news earlier today and was surprised the court decision was unanimous.
    Thanks for jumping on this quickly Reed. It should bring lively discussion.
    For me its a sad time for most of the reasons you mentioned above.

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  2. Reed,

    Very well written and apt description of why I loved Pitt and College Football.

    On Dorsett and parking tickets. I was a delivery boy for A&M Corp on Baum and Bigalo all four years in college and never put a cent in a meter. Ran up about $1600 in fines.
    Appeared in traffic court with company attorney and all but $1.00 was dismissed.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. My only comment is God Bless You Ike. I’m sure the entire POV community is rooting for a speedy recovery. There are too few Kool Aid drinkers on this site and as such your commentary is sought after by many.

    Liked by 8 people

  5. The day of 30 football schools may be hastened by this decision. Don’t really need to wait for the tv contracts to expire now.

    When athletes live in separate housing, eat in separate cafeterias, get special tutoring, get compensation, take special classes and have a different judicial system, you know they weren’t ever part of the student body. And it’s been that way for a long time already.

    Football and basketball have always been different given the tv and money.

    It will be interesting to see what schools get invited and what schools try hard to get into the $100 million dollar club.

    Pitt will be relegated to a $20 million dollar club. Narduzzi will need to take a huge pay cut. 🤠

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  6. I think back to, oh, 1988 and remember how great college football was played. The stars, the limited television, getting Pitt info from my grandpap back in Pittsburgh when I was in Youngstown, or waiting for SI or The Sporting News to be delivered for more information.

    Two years later as we began the 90s, college football was changing for the worst, we just didn’t know the wheels were in motion that would generate a monster years later. Sure, the 90s was a great decade for college football and Pitt’s admin saw fit to give us fans God awful football, but it was the last somewhat, dare I say, pure, decade before the arms race began in 2000.

    So, when I think of those good old days, it ran like clockwork for us fans as athletes stayed quiet, the NCAA ruled with an iron fist and it seemed to work just fine. As much as I hate what transpired today, it feels right. The kids should be paid and no way a monopoly like the NCAA should have all that power because it abused that power for years.

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  7. The Supreme Court decision is basically a very narrow ruling, which says as a position that FB and BB student athletics aren’t getting enough benefit compared to what revenues the colleges are pulling in. It is actually in conflict with Title IX, which requires equality to men’s and women’s sports. They haven’t addressed the fact that much of the money colleges receive from FB and BB goes to minor sports, including women’s sports, and that sports in general is not a mandated mission of the university. No one is forcing a college to have sports or a student to play.

    And one (terrible) solution could be that colleges would rather drop all sports than pay for them out of tuition money. If a college would choose to drop all sports, then that would actually be satisfactory under this ruling, with no revenue to spend improperly. The Supreme court is doing more and more of this narrow ruling stuff, which often times just results in more law suits being produced.

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  8. So, I doubt the antitrust laws were written with compensation for college athletes in mind… 🤔.

    Nice write-up, Reed. And you effortlessly worked in a shot at Duzzer… 😊. Tex pleased!

    When I went to Pitt I think the tuition cost per term was $240. It’s like, how the heck did they manage all those people and facilities with the students only paying 500 bucks per year – versus what’s going on now…

    I like ike (but I object to him being referred to as a KoolAid drinker…).

    Go ike.
    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Ike sees the bourbon glass half full. A Koolaid drinkers glass is always full.

      I completely empty the glass. It’s never full enough. 🥃

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  9. Amazing that you paid $7 dollars for a pitt ticket at three rivers back in the 70’s. Today you can walk up at Heinz and get in for free. 🤠

    Liked by 1 person

  11. VoR – I think you’re missing the point here … this was a straw that broke the camel’s back moment for the NCAA … this opens the door to tons of litigation against the NCAA … This is not a narrow ruling … It’s just specific ruling to this case but now sets a precedent for future litigation. This is a precedent setting event for the future of college athletics and has been coming for about a decade. The fact it was unanimous was very significant implying that it may not even be in the NCAA’s best interest to challenge future lawsuits.

    … and that was supposed to be “wright up” not “right up” … drives me crazy there is no edit feature lol

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  13. … and I do agree it’s sad … but like Reed said it’s the correct ruling. Nostalgically, college sports was the best … I still think it will be but it also will come with changes and will look differently. The NCAA can truly embrace being a farm system soon and kids will still need a “farm” to go to.

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  14. Tossing, Amazon has over $400 billion in annual revenue, and Jeff Bezos is worth over $200 billion (less what his ex-wife is squeezing out of him). Yet Whole Foods employees make less than $15 per hour. Is this any different? College kids are still free to accept tuition, room, board, books, spending money, etc., or go dig a ditch somewhere. It’s a free country.

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  15. By the way, I have yet to hear that a college football player turned down a free ride to a major university because the offer wasn’t good enough. So how many players are really complaining?

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    1. 9-0 SCOTUS … I think we say scoreboard in those situations.

      What does Amazon have to do with this? Their employees are not paid in Amazon gift cards.

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    2. They haven’t turned it down because the NCAA is the NFL farm system. If you look at college basketball, they have turned it down because they have an alternative. Overseas leagues took a few kids. Two first rounders this past year … the G-League will have two, maybe 3 first rounders this year and many more in the future. The G-League got a couple top 10 kids this year. So, yes, kids have turned down a free ride when available. It’s antitrust because the NCAA is the only option.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Terrible about Twyman. Wishing for a full recovery. Sounds like wrong place wrong time and not doing anything nefarious.

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  21. I have been a Pitt fan since 1966, my freshman year. I am a long time reader , first time poster. The constant negativity is more than a bit much. But Erie’s comment is totally inappropriate and if we are to believe the keep it civil theme , needs to be called out

    Liked by 2 people

  24. Tossing, the point with Amazon is that there is no correlation between incoming revenue and what an employee is paid. You could argue that a player going to an Ivy League school is getting paid more than a player at a public school since the tuition is higher. And if you look at the lifetime earnings for any college degreed person vs no degree you would probably agree that the system works well for 99.8% of all college players with degrees.

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    1. VoR – We’ve had this discussion before. An education is only valuable if you think holds value. Yes, lots of athletes do value the education but the inverse is also true. Lots of athletes don’t care about the education. You can’t project what you think is fair onto others.

      If you want to play in the NFL the NCAA has a monopoly on the farm system so NFL prospects are forced to go to college. No guns to their heads but no alternative … and the last few years you have seen players say no to colleges and sit out games or leave mid-season once they feel they’ve secured an NFL draft spot. The tide has already turned and there is no going back.

      I, personally, don’t even think you should have to take a class to play. The University is the owner and the athlete is an employee not a student. If you want the education it can be part of the package but if you don’t want it, you can get the cash.

      Look at the transfer portal. A lot less athletes value the education than you think. Playing time > Degree. You see it every season with more and more volume. How many kids sit out bowl games now? How many sat out last season? Those are business decisions, not education decisions.

      College basketball is a good example. Mick Cronin got pissed at the G-League for what he considered negatively recruiting against them … like a corporate entity has to play by the same rules as a college lol … the NCAA wants the market to themselves.

      https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31141752/ucla-bruins-mick-cronin-blasts-nba-g-league-recruit-daishen-nix?platform=amp

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  25. When a kid accepts an offer, it’s a job offer. Because football consumes your entire college experience. Your job is to entertain and win games so the university can make money and elevate their brand.

    Lifting, studying the playbook, reviewing film, practice, travel, games, eating a certain way. School is secondary. If school is your primary, you are most likely third string or the rare scholar athlete.

    Coaches want you focused on football 24/7 Because their jobs and high pay are on the line.

    The nfl has a free farm system. Time they start paying for it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Education is a life long process anyway and it’s far more than the classroom

      On the job training as specific as this with a limited shelf life for the body is why. You can always go back to school. A kid has no where else to go if they aren’t trained for a pro job at age 18. No 30 year old is going back to school for football training.

      Kids value the training for sport that they can get nowhere else. You can always attend night school, get corporate training, educate yourself by reading books or combing the internet.

      Formal education isn’t for everyone. And most formal education is just a union card. Classroom teaches you theory. It really doesn’t prepare you for the real world and practice. Broad based training can help expand your mind but you don’t need a professional to do that for you. Specific education or a trade is far more practical. Like nursing school. But the real learning always comes on the job.

      College helped me challenge myself and think differently. It helped me interact with diverse people. But I could have also gotten that by going directly into the work force. I really don’t see a strong value in a degree these days.

      Did college teach me spreadsheets and data management and analysis. Did college teach me how to do financial budgets. Did college teach me how to perform market research and analysis, put together PowerPoint presentations, speak in front of hundreds, manage teams, run a business.

      Frankly college is overrated. It’s there for the networking, relationships and proof that you can conform and handle structure. It doesn’t allow you to truly be creative and free.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. The NCAA can still control what is permissible as academic related payment. It isn’t a free for all for the schools, yet.
    It will certainly change thing but it won’t happen overnight.

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  28. If the reincarnated USFL was smart, they get some NFL backing, permit kids to sign straight from high school and play in smaller stadiums like a true minor league.
    It would take a few years to be successful but it would change everything.

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    1. Whether it’s the USFL or something else, this is the way it should be. However, the NFL would NEVER buy in. They much prefer having parents fund their Minor League by paying tuition that just got a LOT more expensive.

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      1. Yes they prefer not to financially invest unless forced, but they are not happy at the qb pipeline to the pros. I would think the nfl would like control over how kids get trained and prepared. From the coach hires to schemes to practice techniques, etc

        Pitt is not preparing any qb for the nfl

        The nfl would love to expand. Plenty of great markets left. Means more tv money particularly overseas. What’s holding them back? Not enough good quarterbacks.

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  30. so how will this affect all the other non-revenue sports which at least at D-1 are no less a job with all the time commitments?

    they just remain lower paying jobs? wrestling, swimming, etc. just get their partial tuition offers?

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    1. I don’t think these true student athletes will get paid. Maybe their allowances increase but that’s it.

      That’s why the football break from the NCAA will harm these secondary sports unless you’re part of this new league. But then your secondary are at advantage over other schools because of the money.

      Pitt would be forced to go down to the minimum 14 programs and then would slash the remaining budgets.

      This will have unintended consequence. Will cause a domino affect and shakeout.

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    1. This is happening because, by and large, the institutions have not been honest brokers, good stewards, or effective advocates for those they allegedly represent.

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  32. Yeah, those Little Leaguers who play at Williamsport need to be properly compensated…

    Go Pitt.

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  33. The Times says “an era of chaos and uncertainty” is coming for college sports.

    So Pitt has been out ahead of this for decades… 😊

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Pitt is well positioned🤠

      The nfl wants better trained rookies. Many colleges don’t run the schemes the pros run. There is a transition period. Particularly for quarterbacks. The nfl knows it’s qb league and colleges aren’t preparing them well enough to step in and start and excel.

      Nfl should help subsidize this league and influence the coach hires and schemes and training

      They have always wanted spring pro and semi pro leagues to act as a scouting network and feeder system

      Pitt won’t be one of the 30 invited but they could have a shot at a 40 school league. They’d have to really want it though. And they’d be forced to build that MPC.

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    3. Who said “ May you live in interesting times”? In college sports, we appear to be there…

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  35. Tex, my point was that college should teach you critical thinking and give you a foundation for what you want to pursue as a career.
    It’s a buffet of many different types of knowledge options if you choose to partake.
    I only advanced through life by going back to school and continuing my education.
    “I read a lot” didn’t quite cut it in job interviews.
    Go figure.
    Just my POV…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I understand. I just think education these days needs geared to the real world. More practical. More specific. More specialized. It should be more like training. Many night classes are like that. Because professionals attend them.

      I don’t know how any football player can work a job and attend class. And this isn’t merely a 20 hour part time job. It’s full time 80 hours per week even in spring semester if you add up all the playbook studying, lifting, practice, travel, videotape/film and games. They have no time for class. That’s what football has become. Makes education a mockery.

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  36. So my question remains, do these athletes have to pay taxes on everything now?
    The value of their education easily exceeds $50,000 per year at many schools.
    Another cost to be added to the mix.
    Unintended consequences?

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    1. They don’t now. But they should. At some point benefits or any ‘free’ rent is gonna be considered taxable income.

      And once athletes are paid, they will have a big tax bill coming that most can’t afford. Now you got the irs in a non profit university business. Because it’s now a private enterprise and people are on payroll.

      The government is going to want a piece of all that. It’s only fair.

      Be careful what you ask for. Fatherly advice.

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  38. I edited Erie’s comment but want to make something clear. His thought as stated was not meant to be insulting but humorous. Unfortunately it was both so, as per long running standards on here, I deleted the comment part and left the link. Kudos for Erie in recognizing what the complaint was based on and saying he wouldn’t do it again.

    And for those who will jump up and scream “Censorship !!” or “Free Speech !!!” I say those things can be found elsewhere if they are absolutely needed by the reader/commenter.

    Liked by 3 people

  40. As to the need for a college degree… I hired probably 25 or so federal workers while in active duty with the Coast Guard. By direction of the GSA almost all positions were to have certain requirements such as a Masters Degree as a prerequisite for the applicant being hired.

    It was stupidity on steroids. I had to pass on people who were perfect for the job advertised just because they didn’t meet that single requirement. So – I did some digging and found what I thought was a loophole in the requirement and took it to our legal division for review. Lo and behold as the loophole was written all I had to do was tweak the job description slightly and I could then make the best hire for the position.

    I actually got some blowback from HQ after doing this a few times and had to travel from NYC to DC to explain what I had done. So I wrote a white paper with examples of successful hires, and subsequent work results, of civilian workers who I hired in this fashion. Basically I said “Give me the best persons possible for the work at hand and I’ll give you a completed mission. Not the most formally qualified person, but the best to do what needs doing.”

    Point is that college is a great thing for an individual if they want to expand their horizons and character, open up new lines of thought they might never had if not attending and, most importantly, to ‘learn’ how to learn. It should never be a prerequisite unless the issue is so technically fine that a proof of specific knowledge is required.

    I really hoped that Congress would have passed the bill floated years ago that would have federally funded many more two-year colleges and formal trade schools. That would have eased the belief that one had to go to a four year college (most often with associated huge student loan debt) to be hirable in the professional work force.

    I think of fours years of college much like I think of four years of the military. Both venues will take a young person and give them opportunities to mold themselves into the most responsible and best equipped person to live out the remaining years of life. But it takes the person themselves to open their minds to changing who and what they are – with strong help and guidance from instructors and senior personnel.

    Liked by 4 people

    2. Reed, I hired 89 folks over the years for sales and administration. I had a couple of “hard learned” lessons. I always hired college grads, not because of their faux education but because college provides a “rounding” opportunity for students. You have to learn “life’s lessons”, how to get along away from mommy and daddy, how to plan and execute a time schedule, how to meet and get along with every kind of human being and most of all how to deal with pressure and deadlines!

      C-B students were my best hires and extracurricular activities were a huge predictor of success!

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      1. I’m a sr. sales manager as well. Public Sector IT Sales. Entry level to mid-career. I like collegiate athletes because they are competitive both individually but they also operate well in a team environment. I’ve probably hired the most in this group. But, I’ve also had tremendous success hiring military without a degree. They’re operationally efficient, can work well with a team, and driven. I sell to public sector (federal government) so they are a natural fit with the missions of our customers. I’ve also had success with people without degrees who jumped into a specific trade (coding/sales) and stayed with that trade for several years without college experience. They’re driven, understand their role, and often times have a chip on their shoulder since they feel they have to work harder to prove that a Hard Knocks degree is just as valuable as a college degree.

        TL;DR (Long story, short) … If you hire good people, you’ll get good results. Know what you want when you hire and their background can be diverse. I don’t even know what well rounded means. That’s a just an empty phrasing that sounds nice.

        My hiring strategy is seriously this simple. No hard questions. No specific questions to the industry. No questions about the resume … I think everyone lies …

        #1 Are they intelligent enough to do the job?
        #2 Can they work in a team dynamic?
        #3 Do they have high emotional intelligence? Don’t bring baggage to work
        Bonus … I like folks that are slightly disagreeable … you have to deal with them asking for raises every two weeks but they are the ones not afraid to ask the customer for a PO at the end of a quarter. I don’t want “yes” folks. Challenge me.

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  41. Pitt FB should approach the Steelers to become their farm team. This would solve recruiting and eliminate money problems. Other college FB teams would rush to do the same so we would have many teams to play.
    The college FB teams who want to remain independent would soon find their level of play at a lower level. Other than that money will decide what is going to happen.

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  42. Agree with Tex above.

    I firmly believe that any level of football is enjoyable to watch if you are interested in the main things – the players and the games played.

    It is the fans themselves who so desperately need all the added trappings – have to be a Power 5 school; have to have an on-campus stadium; have to have 70,000 in attendance and have to have every trapping of “fabulous” attached to the program.

    I grew up going to every Pitt home game (literally) from birth until I was 22 years old, but as a teenager I would also go watch Carnegie Mellon play on the weekends Pitt was out of town for an away game.

    I honestly had just as much fun watching those games with my buddies as I did the bigger Pitt games. The football was just as well played and exciting and those players went out and tried their hardest to win – just like the D1 players did.

    Liked by 1 person

  43. An apology was issued and that apology was accepted … I hope you don’t get anything more from that, Reed.

    Man, I cannot stand Tim Benz … his article is interesting but he fires me up every time. It’s not about fair, it’s about right. It’s not about equal, it’s about leveling the playing field. As I tell my kids, I don’t believe in fair. Lol. This allows the schools not cheating to make a decision if they want to do what the cheaters were doing but fairly now. They can choose to, or not too … it’s at least a choice now.

    Benz is correct that it’s going to change the collegiate landscape. No doubt. I think college football is way too established to just crumble though. The NCAA may die but the sport will still flourish under a different leadership model … probably a commissioner … maybe even flourish more now without draconian rules from when collegiate sports were just more organized club sports.

    By the way … this is all self-inflicted by the NCAA … had they spent the last 40 years adapting the landscape instead of protecting their own interest, this would not be such a jolt. It could have been gradual progression but the NCAA chose this route. If you’re upset or nostalgic about the old model, don’t blame the athletes … all of the NCAA’s decisions the last 40 years lead us to this point … It didn’t have to be like this.

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    1. Of course – matter dropped.

      I don’t blame the athletes for anything but not wanting an good education as much as wanting a 1000-1 shot at the NFL, and that’s not really ‘blame’ but more like I’m sad all don’t see it that way.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, sad, is “fair”. I agree that you can disagree with someone not valuing an education as long as you can acknowledge it.

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  44. So if a high school football player wants to play in the NFL, but doesn’t want the college experience or education, is it up to the colleges to provide him with a playing and training opportunity? This argument that the NCAA should somehow accommodate players who are only there for FB or BB development is crazy.

    Colleges aren’t required to have sports teams. It is purely voluntary, and they should set the rules of participation and the benefits provided. If players are overworked, and the colleges agree, then eliminate Spring ball, or Summer workouts. They are not training for the NFL or NBA. Paul Zeise’s column on this subject is spot on.

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    1. But these teams are helping the university’s brand, generating a profit in some instances, are providing something students want, and help get the school noticed.

      Colleges need sports. Students and fans want it.

      A house without a front porch isn’t a house. It’s an apartment or a van down by the river.

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    2. Colleges that don’t want to be a part of this can opt out now … it’s a billion dollar industry and the product on the courts and fields get nothing … that’s the issue, here. A divided court voted 9-0. That tells you everything. It’s a racket. It’s about winning, not about education. It’s about money, not about education. The players that are there for the education, more often than not, end up quitting the sport to focus on education. There are exceptions … there always are … but priority number 1 is the sport you’re on scholarship for … then keeping your grades up … but, not at the expense of number 1 … so you better have a major that contributes to making number 1 a priority … in other words a degree that won’t help you get a job after college …

      It blows my mind when people feel bad for the Universities … they’re in the money making business … they have zero loyalty to the athletes or what happens to them when they graduate.

      The nostalgia is strong with you … It’s about what is right not about what is better for the fans … Once upon a time, people complained free agency would be the end of professional sports … professional sports actually rose in popularity.

      Change can be good … Like I said, the NCAA could have done this gradually but decided to fight at every turn so it’s going to be wholesale changes instead of gradual … that’s the NCAA’s problem, not the athletes … players, professionally and in college, have more power than ever before. That’s a good thing. Corporate America is ruthless … taking power from them is a good thing.

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        1. There has to be new leadership dynamic (both players and universities). I agree with that. But, the current power is with some evil folks. Just look at what’s happened to Penn State, Michigan St, Michigan … the universities do not care about the athletes.

          Like

  45. But they are training and not going to class or real class. Don’t have time for school.

    And live in separate housing and follow a strict regimen determined by their coach not the school. They get special treatment and aren’t even seen on campus anymore.

    We’ve had a minor league system for years that isn’t subsidized by the pro leagues. They like it this way but are having difficulty with colleges producing ready quarterbacks. The NCAA likes it because a bunch of old white men are getting rich on this system. No impetus to change until now.

    The quicker universities break away from the body and system they created and encouraged by the nfl, the better. Find your 30 farm teams and be done with it. Leave the football I like for the true scholar athlete.

    Like

  46. Tex is 100% correct … the ideal of student athlete died in the early 80’s … maybe late 70’s.

    Like

    1. How many students live in the same dorms as athletes. Eat in the same cafeterias. Attend the same class. See them on campus anymore. In my day, you could interact with the football and basketball guys but come mid to late 90’s even at Pitt it all changed. It changed a full decade before that at places like Alabama, Miami and some other schools. The NCAA is corrupt and is a racket. Form your farm system and pay the players. But I’d like pitt out of that system. It would mean significantly less money for pitt. And most likely programs would be cut. But I think pitt football actually improves. You’d finally see some ten win seasons and the games would be just as entertaining. I don’t mind playing Rutgers and temple.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. That’s where we differ. I want Pitt in that system. Haha. I can separate athlete from student. I don’t see the big deal.

        Like

        1. It would be nice to be in that system. Pitt could then afford hockey. But would pitt always be in danger of relegation. Pitt would continue to be mediocre. No fun in that right.

          Like

  47. ^^^But that doesn’t have to be that way. The schools themselves are to blame for this.

    If the ‘winning’ culture wasn’t so tied into $$$ then perhaps the universities themselves would make sure the kids went to class and did what was required (and stated in writing in their scholarship acceptance documents).

    And don’t tell me it can’t be that way at a big school because Wannstedt, for all his other faults, personally made sure each player attended classes or they either didn’t play the next game, were suspended until their grades met Pitt’s criteria or dismissed from the roster – which meant a pulled scholarship.

    It is the schools themselves who allow the students to shift from being student/athletes to athletes who play for a university.

    The fact that Pitt and other schools feel they have to keep up with the Jones really pisses me off. And I’ll disagree with Tex above re: need for a football front porch. Pitt accepts 57% of freshman applicants (way higher than most public schools) so i refuse to believe that any HS senior wants to come to Pitt for our football program and not for the education they can get here.

    That may be the case at other schools (PSU for example) but sure as Hell not at Pitt – we could drop to FCS or DII level and applications to the university would be just about the same.

    With other schools who have a lower acceptance rate (most are in the 20%-30%s) that front porch also means nothing – if football was so important that they relied on it to attract students then the school wouldn’t be turning 70+% of the SR HS applicants away.

    The Front Porch is a myth created by administrators at schools to get bigger budgets, salaries, etc. from D1 payouts for the school and themselves – it has nothing whatsoever to do with more students wanting to come to the school. It may be a different reason for wanting to attend that school – but it doesn’t truly effect the application numbers in any real way.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow. That high an acceptance. Has to be money driven. Even Florida state only accepts around 35 percent. Is pitt now also handing out degrees like West Virginia? 🤠

      Pitt just doesn’t know how to build a good front porch. Pitts porch is from the 50’s and all they do is slap some paint on it every five years.

      Like

      1. I’ve mentioned this before, Pitt doesn’t really market athletics as part of the college experience. It’s education, and cultural fit with the city. Sports is further down on the list. Pitt offers an urban academic experience similar to GW or NYU.

        Like

    2. I will agree that I’ve seen both sides. Some studies indicate it matters. Some not so much. But there’s no denying it is the schools brand. It’s their identity. In this sports crazed world, how one views your football or basketball team is how they perceive the school. And my daughter personally wants to go to a school that has both good academics and sports. That’s why she won’t go to rice. That’s why she’s most likely a longhorn. My son would have gone to rice if they had a good chem engineer program though.

      Like

  48. Links to articles discussed above:

    https://triblive.com/sports/tim-benz-supreme-court-mocks-notion-of-ncaa-amateurism-now-lets-mock-goal-of-fair-ncaa-economics/?utm_source=second-street&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Triblive+-+Daily+Sports+Email

    https://triblive.com/sports/former-pitt-star-jaylen-twyman-shot-4-times-in-washington-d-c-expected-to-recover-agent-says/

    https://triblive.com/sports/pitt-hires-former-player-gilbert-brown-as-director-of-player-alumni-developmentr/

    https://triblive.com/sports/oddsmakers-rank-pitts-schedule-second-easiest-georgia-techs-toughest-in-acc/

    Like

  49. College level education is needed for most professional jobs. All STEM fields, law, finance, medical, teaching, etc. Does it have to be four years, absolutely not? That is the big college scam. I could have learned as much about coding back in the day at a two year tech school as I did at Pitt. I worked with guys that did just that. If you want to advance to management, you have to have a degree in fortune 500 corporations. Yes, it is BS.
    Reed nailed it, government needs to push community colleges and tech schools.

    As for college athletes, their pay is be education related. Yes, they still have to meet requirements toward a degree. I don’t see a super conference any time soon. It will change slowly. Too many TV contracts signed.

    Like

  50. notrocketscience … That’s why everyone should come over to sales. Lol. You can get paid like doctors without the debt. Haha. And get paid what you’re worth. You sell, you get paid. You don’t, good luck with the rent … but earning are not capped.

    My one son is in an advanced academics program. I always tease him my other son will make more than him in the real world because he won’t be a in fixed income job. Lol. I have no idea if that’s reality (too soon), but it’s fun to rile the kids up and get those competitive juices going.

    I always joke with engineers who want to make the move to sales engineers … kind of a dirty word for some … I’ve found that that the third kid is what makes people make the jump. Lol. “What is making you want to jump from being a coder and playing with tech to sales and consulting?” … almost always the answer is “my wife is pregnant” … “How many kids?” … “This will be my third”. Cracks me up every time.

    My realtor probably makes $1M a year and she didn’t even graduate High School. She started working admin at the front desk of realty company and worked her way up to lead associate.

    I also work for Fortune 500 company and there are several leaders without degrees or college experience. Not the President of the company but there are VP’s and Directors. Most have military experience in lieu of a degree, but not all.

    Like

    1. I couldn’t sell a slippery bar of soap to Jerry Sandusky. I’d starve selling. It takes a certain talent.

      Liked by 1 person

  51. Always make your boss look good. But never have him think you are smarting than him. Before he comes to that realization, transfer or leave the company willingly on your own accord. Otherwise it will be involuntary. Loyalty is overrated and can be your downfall. Nobody teaches Corporate p-tics in school.

    Like

  52. A really great discussion here, thank you.

    I too wonder how it will all pan out as far as who gets paid, how much, and where the money comes from.

    Will it be all students, or just athletes? Will it be all athletes or just some? Are schools really going to pay students to attend instead of students paying schools?

    Interesting times..

    Like

  53. Universities don’t make a profit off of college sports. Incoming money is allocated to the minor sports to cover costs, and as Tex says, they are probably losing $10 million per year while supporting 19 collegiate sports. Every extra dollar they would pay to a football or basketball player is one less dollar for the minor sports.

    A college like Pitt could simply reduce the number of minor sports which would leave fewer opportunities for other students. If Pitt brings in $50 million per year off of TV and ticket money, this is nothing compared to the $2.5 billion it brings in from all sources, or the $4.2 billion it contributes to local communities. This whole issue of colleges making a big fat profit is misleading, and ignores the point that incoming FB and BB revenues keep the other sports afloat.

    Like

    1. Few schools make money in sports. Maybe about 15 nationwide in D1. Football and basketball make money. Pitt football makes around $15 million mainly due to a check…that ACC check of $30 million of which 80 percent is allocated to football. Primarily driven by tv revenues.

      Basketball at Pitt under Dixon was making an easy $15 million each year thanks to suites and a packed Pete. Advertisers were also beating down the door.

      But every secondary sport loses between $250k and $4 million. Cross country loses the least. Women’s basketball lost nearly $5 million under Susie one year.

      If the ACC check is reduced, pitt will either have to raise student fees and tuition, eliminate sports programs, or find a sugar daddy booster. No other options exist. Most likely scenario is for pitt to eliminate 4-5 unprofitable and poorly attended sports.

      The university doesn’t need to offer sports. But every school does because it’s their porch and because students and alumni want it. Plus it boosts the local economy particularly small college towns.

      Most schools subsidize sports via money transfers…accounting practice. Historically Pitt transfers roughly $10 million each year from the general fund. That’s roughly a 10-13 percent subsidy from non athletic earmarked funds making Pitt one of the most heavily subsidized P5 schools.

      Pitt frankly can not afford Narduzzi or to pay players. This bankrupts Pitt.

      Liked by 1 person

  54. Now a course in corporate politics should be required at all levels of education. We could start teaching young kids about politics in youth sports. 😀

    Like

  55. Speaking of colleges losing money. They are making it up this year by accepting more foreign students often at triple the tuition. It’s all about the $

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    1. Pitt has a large international body. They pay outrageous tuition. Some is covered by their home country and deep pockets. Always follow the money. And few of these kids care about American football.

      Like

    2. foreign tuition at GaTech isn’t much more than out of state tuition so are THEY much different than other schools? Pitt?

      Like

    1. not a very good answer or I missed it?

      $100 more at GaTech and brief look seems to be $1000 more at Pitt

      Like

  58. better answer: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20180220142151532

    “For some countries, the difference in tuition fees depends on geopolitical factors that do not coincide exactly with the distinction between ‘national’ and ‘foreign’. For example, in the United States, national students usually pay the same tuition fees as foreign students if they study in public universities outside of their state of residence. For private universities, there is typically no difference in tuition rates.”

    so out of state tuition is about the same as foreign in most undergrad colleges/universities, which of course is far higher than in-state at a public university so….

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Correct. But many schools are implementing international surcharges. Sometimes these add ons are in the thousands. It’s becoming more prevalent.

      It’s outrageous that an out of state resident pays Pitt over $40,000 annually in tuition. Even the in state tuition is nearly double the in state for Texas and A&M. Two better sports and academic schools. Well Texas for sure. Sorry Aggies.

      Pitt is a poor value overall.

      Like

  59. And how will compensation for athletes’ images, etc. be regulated? Throw in attorneys, agents and the like and the problem gets bigger and more fraudulent. Do the courts really think a 17 year old kid will be able to represent themselves with EA sports or Nike let alone Mom and Pop’s Chevy dealership? The question was rhetorical.
    Pitt and similar schools will be the top of the cast off pile for better players while even smaller market schools will be left with the old school pure student athletes.

    The top power schools now will continue to grow.

    Really disappointing events.

    Liked by 1 person

  60. tvax1
    June 22, 2021 at 5:15 pm
    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Reed, I think your filter with WordPress is a bit too “fine”

    PITA for you to need to respond

    Like

  61. BTW, Barry Alvarez showed how you respond to negative publicity with the news today regarding Badgers men’s hoops. Simply said the coach has his full support.

    Pitt wound have panicked and fired the guy.

    Like

  62. Tex, latest Pitt acceptance rate is 59.3% as of 2020.

    https://collegedunia.com/usa/college/1842-university-of-pittsburgh-pittsburgh/admission

    I was surprised it was so high also.

    I have always thought that if one was looking honestly at why kids choose one school or another it was more about which school parties the most vice a good football program.

    Here are the top 15 party schools…six have crap football so not necessarily a big correlation between very good football and drinking.

    https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/best-party-schools/

    Pitt has never been as locally popular like some of the big dog football schools like Alabama, PSU, Texas, etc.

    Pitt, like Miami, USC and other schools located in urban areas have way more media attention for non- athletic issues than those small town – big football universities like PSU.

    We Pitt fans on social media (blogs, message boards, etc.) talk about FB & BB so much that we start to believe college athletics are the ‘be all, end all’ aspects of a universities’ existence when in truth it is minimal in the grand scheme of things.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Penn state uses football to help connect fans to campus. It’s their brand. Their identity. ‘We Are’ doesn’t exist without football. Penn state rallies behind football. It’s a lifelong bond and source of pride. Sports at Penn State is more than entertainment. It goes beyond competition. It helps create loyal zombies.

      Many schools are like this

      Kids select a school based on many factors. But sports will always be an important factor for many high school seniors.

      From my perspective, cost was the number one factor. Then availability of programs. Quality of those programs. Proximity to home. Culture and vibe. Look and feel of campus including housing and the library. And finally the football team.

      It was Pitt squared off against penn state. And culture and football pushed pitt across the finish line. So football and the culture it helps create on campus was a deciding factor in my selection. I knew then that JoePa was an evil and hypocritical SOB.

      My son could care less about longhorn football. It was financial aid and program quality for him. My junior daughter on the other hand wants a school good at both academics and sports.

      Texas by the way has a 32 percent acceptance rate

      Like

    2. The acceptance rate is misleading. Look at the GPAs and SATs of the incoming class. I know people who got in with less than 1000 in 1988. Nowadays, you need at least 1250. I didn’t have a 3.0 in high school, and now you need 3.6 or 3.7.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Grade inflation is more rampant today

        And the sat doesn’t look like the one we took

        Quality of applicant is better though. But schools like Florida state have caught up. Pitts ranking hasn’t improved that much in 30 years. Sports might have gotten worse actually since late 80’s.

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    3. PITT is in an urban jungle and will never be popular with young men who live 35 miles outside the city limits…,

      BigB… who spent Saturday mornings watching “.Bwana Don” on WTAE……..

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  63. My township has an athletic association for young boys and girls to learn and participate in various sports. I’m starting to lobby my community (and hope eventually to go state-wide and then nationally with this proposal) to start paying those girls and boys that show promise $5,000 a year. As they move up to play high school sports that amount would steadily increase to $50,000 a year. When they enter college their scholarship would include $500,000 a year. The pros could take it from there.

    Liked by 1 person

  64. Pitts poor to mediocre performance in athletics is impacting its academics I would argue. Why such the high acceptance? Does Pitt need the money that bad? Or is it that Pitt just can’t find enough quality applicants.

    And maybe quality high school students read this blog and other forums and have become convinced ( because it’s not always opinion but facts with empirical data) that Pitt doesn’t know what the hell they are doing.

    Why would they go to a school slipping in academic standings. Being passed up by all schools – Florida state. Having to watch a poor football team and being bussed to watch the disaster. And then seeing your basketball program implode and become a national joke. Being bribed with fantas. Sleeping fans. Coal colored merchandise. Yellow seats.

    I think Pitts athletics is harming its academics at this point. I’m in favor of dropping out of P5 and raising admission standards and selectivity. I’m embarrassed that my pitt degree is worth a lot less today than it was 30 years ago. Pitt sports has ruined Pitt.

    Like

    1. To add to my above comment, it is now much more difficult to get into Pitt than it is Penn State. That wasn’t the case for many, many years.

      Liked by 1 person

  65. I’m half serious. Maybe this is all part of Pitts master plan anyway. That would be creative genius. Pitt finally relegates sports, privatizes and becomes ivy like in selectivity.

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  66. Bottom line on the SCOTUS decision… coveted athletes will no longer be expected to limit their choice of school to how much they like a particular coach, a campus or a school’s mystique or tradition.

    The total package of “education related benefits” being offered will certainly be a major if not the deciding factor as to why many high school stars choose one school over another.

    Like

  69. If the semi-pro student athlete is getting paid by the university, is the jock under any requirement to fulfill any years of service to said employer?

    Like

  70. Well the university is making an investment. So I’d think a contract can be written limiting transfers or if the kid wants to leave, he pays back his money or the school he transfers to does

    Soccer leagues loan players. That’s how they do transfers. Win win for both sides.

    All these unintended consequences from taxes to contract law to transfers to conference breakaway to secondary sports to a box full of litigation yet to come

    Devil is in the details

    Liked by 1 person

  72. How is Pitt gonna afford to pay these football players Y’all? Pitt is practically broke. Running a heavy subsidy to keep overall athletics above water. I’m not giving a penny to them even if I found it on the dirty streets of Mansfield. Students will revolt if their fees or tuition increase. Pitt doesn’t have any sugar daddy boosters with any influence. The nerds in their ivory towers have won. Hook em. Or hang em. I forget.

    Like

    1. The 12-team playoff is going to generate billions for the P5 schools. Should cover some costs.

      Rivers Casino throws Pitt some dough?

      Tepper?

      Too late to put a patent on the polio vaccine?

      Like

      1. Tepper gave his money to cmu. He’s a soccer owner now in Carolina. Pitt is a poor investment for him. Heather blew it.

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  74. 🧏🏻‍♂️ “the decision allows schools to provide their athletes with unlimited compensation as long as it is some way connected to their education.”🤦🏻

    This

    “You sat next to them in class and ate with them in the cafeteria.
    You might have envied them because they were getting a free ride on tuition and room & board but you knew they were just like you but with a talent specific to them. They were no better or worse than any other student when it came down to it.” —Reed

    Yep, CAS ‘93

    This is an historic judgement that kills the “collegiate” designation.

    It’s a sad day, man..

    Like

  75. Agree with Reed’s posts on the way things have changed in college sports.

    But Reed made this comment:
    “It is the fans themselves who so desperately need all the added trappings – have to be a Power 5 school; have to have an on-campus stadium; have to have 70,000 in attendance and have to have every trapping of “fabulous” attached to the program.”

    Well it’s also the elite recruits that need this stuff. And that has been heightened, IMHO, by the internet and the athlete’s desire to outdo their counterparts not just on the playing field, but on social media…

    Go ike!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, Go Ike…

      If the fans didn’t insist on playing D1 P5 football and all those other things I mention we wouldn’t have the need for elite recruits because they will go elsewhere anyway and we’ll be a “small dog” school vice a “medium dog” now.

      Like

      1. I’d really rather jump to a JMU situation anymore in terms of football and affiliation.
        There is no novelty being a P5 these days.

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  76. Acceptance rates mean nothing. Acceptance rates measure exclusivity not quality. Schools with low acceptance rates have more people apply. Not sure why this is something of concern.

    3/4 of those accepted are above a 1260 SAT.

    Pitt will not have the same same acceptance rates as large state schools or ultra exclusive institutions like The Ivy Leagues. Compare Pitt to similar urban campuses if you want but it’s not really a measure of anything. Same quality of student will get in. More volume means more less qualified applicants.

    US World News …

    University of Pittsburgh–Pittsburgh Campus admissions is more selective with an acceptance rate of 57%. Half the applicants admitted to University of Pittsburgh have an SAT score between 1260 and 1440 or an ACT score of 28 and 33. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges.

    Liked by 2 people

  79. You all mocked me when I called them athlete students three to four years ago and it was always going to be student-athletes. Still think that way.

    The arms race continues in P5.

    Ike, sending prayers your way.

    Off topic but i have been awol for about a month. Anybody notice Felton started to recruit better when Schirer was named next Duke coach?

    Like

    2. Does that mean the POV is out of diapers and into big boys pants now?

      Beyond baby food and eating real food with a fork.

      We aren’t drinking bourbon out of a glass yet are we?

      Like

  86. I just talked with Iek’s wife Angie… Surgery went well. He is recovering and has to spend at least one more night in the hospital…keep that prayer wagon circled for our brother …………………….Iek !!!!

    Liked by 12 people

  90. I think that this Supreme Court ruling, which was very narrow, will not have much impact on the college game. The NCAA and the Conferences are still in charge, and will have their lawyers pouring over this decision to make sure they do the minimum to stay in compliance with the ruling. Education related remuneration is not defined in the Supreme court ruling, and so the NCAA can define it as they please, just so they juice it up a little over the present state. There may be some initial minor differences among conferences, but these will probably equalize over time.

    The NCAA has an interest making competition fair, so just as they legislate 85 scholarships, or the number of official visits a recruit can take, after much input they will determine what colleges can offer. They will also approve of players controlling their own images and brand. I think we will find that maybe a dozen or so players each year will be able to make money off of their NIL. These players will most likely be the ones that head to the NFL or NBA early. The NCAA was going to give up the NIL anyway, so this will look like they are responding to something. When the Supreme Court failed to require colleges to pay salaries, and to keep it “education related”, it indirectly indicated that there are limits to what the colleges have to provide.

    Like

    1. What if a school gives the players X-dollars per grade point? Isn’t that “education related”… 🤔

      All the best to ike! 👍

      Like

      1. The NCAA would never approve it due to inability to control it. Not every education related expense is a good idea or will be approved by the NCAA. I doubt, for example, that the NCAA would approve of a college giving a player a car so he could commute to campus.

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        1. Maybe so, but the court ruling provides very nice cover for schools who have sports money. They will find plenty of “education related” ways to give some of that money to players, IMHO…

          Go ike!

          Like

  91. If universities can make more money, they will.

    Hence pitt accepting everyone under the sun now

    Applying surcharges to international students

    Playoffs expanding to 12 teams

    Forming a super league

    Raising student fees and tuition to pay for Narduzzis bloated salary

    Like

  92. Nearly impossible is not impossible. The Pete will be over 30 years old when the Heinz lease expires

    https://www.si.com/college/bostoncollege/football/ranking-acc-stadiums-football

    Steelers could renovate or build new. I’m thinking they build new. But if they implode Heinz, Steelers are playing in West Virginia or at penn state for two years. If they build outside the city, they can continue playing at Heinz until the move in day.

    Steelers really want to host a Super Bowl. That means retractable roof. That means $150 million for that design feature alone. Needs to be strong enough from an engineering standpoint to support the weight of snow and ice. I’d personally install heating pipes on the roof. Problem solved with a heated roof.

    Like

  93. I can also see the Steelers wanting two field surfaces – one natural grass and the other artificial beneath it. Tottenham has this design feature to host American football on fake grass. Steelers could then host more events with an artificial surface…high school playoffs, concerts, etc

    They probably go with a stade Pierre mauroy concept before Pitt. Then Steelers could host final 4’s.

    NFL will be going to Europe. I expect to see new teams added in England and Germany. Maybe Mexico and Canada. All about the money.

    So the NFL will be in need of colleges supplying the extra ready to go quarterbacks. This will speed up the birth of a farm system or super league for college football.

    Like

  96. An interesting perspective. He did inherit a dumpster fire. Poured gas instead of water on it. Fire finally out but only the foundation is left. I don’t have the patience to wait for a mansion and there’s not enough land in Pitts neighborhood any way. I’m fine pitching a tent and going to the NIT first.

    You do know the cost of lumber and drywall is 300 percent higher than a year ago Jeff?

    Like

    1. Still holding out hope Capel can turn this around, but I’m not a big fan of the head basketball coach and second most visible representative of the university emoting on twitter like an angsty teen. Sounds like he’s trying to convince himself he’s building a mansion more than anyone else.

      Like

      1. He needs built up much like his team. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t his original plan. And Pitt doesn’t need a mansion. I’d love to ask him how many bedrooms and baths, the square footage and the number of acres for that mansion of his. Are we talking Italian marble baths, gold plated toilet seats, horse stable in the back, wine cellar. Inquiring minds want to know.

        Like

        1. I’m going to order embroidered throw pillows that say, “Who is going to grab a hammer?” Or maybe a little wooden sign for the kitchen above the tile backsplash that says, “In this house, we all grab hammers.” Wonder if they come in Pitt Script?

          Like

  99. VoR – It wasn’t salary related because the players involved in this lawsuit did not push it … I think they should have … but they saw it as a precedent setting case for future litigation. The NCAA has said several times to it’s members to expect a lot more litigation, now. Like I said before, this was a straw breaking the camel’s back moment. Wholesale changes will be coming and the P5 can say FU NCAA, I’m out. They already shut the NCAA out of the football playoffs. That’s privately sponsored and not an NCAA sanctioned event. Some of your suggestions could result in collusion lawsuits. If all the teams in a conference collude to keep benefits down, that’s a lawsuit with Supreme Court precedent … The Supreme Court did not mince words on this … the NCAA has a model that would be illegal in any other industry.

    Like

  100. Sounds like tje NCAA is going to leave it up to the conferences and schools to decide what and how much to compensate for.

    This way the NCAA wont be held liable for any lawsuits arising.

    Also, it wouldn’t shock me if at least half of the schools decide to no longer provide scholarships and instead pay money that can be used to attend their school.

    Like

  101. Tossing, so does MLB. I suspect that the NCAA might even reduce the number of scholarships to 65 or so to make up for the additional cost of the education related expenses. Walk ons may not be permitted so they don’t need to pay them. The point is that the NCAA still runs things, and the university presidents are the members. There is no collusion since the colleges voluntarily agree to follow the rules as part of membership, and the Supreme Curt said nothing about the NCAA as a governing organization. Conferences could be at a disadvantage if they pay less than other conferences, so they will all follow the same NCAA guidelines.

    No team can say they withdraw or they won’t be able to schedule other NCAA affiliated teams. If the NCAA didn’t sanction the playoffs, then the participants would be severely penalized and not permitted to play other teams the following year. Everyone acts like the NCAA will just disappear, or be castrated. It won’t because some type of order is needed. It will still function and determine college and player eligibility.

    Like

    1. I’m afraid you’re wrong VoR. The NCAA may exist but the P5 or something similar will leave in the near future and create it’s own league. If the P5 decide to leave together they can. They can play each other.

      The college football playoff is not an NCAA event … that’s why NCAA is not branded with it.

      “As the NCAA does not organize or award an official national championship for FBS football (instead merely recognizing the decisions made by any of a number of independent major championship selectors), the CFP’s inception in 2014 marked the first time a major national championship selector in college football was able to determine their champion by using a bracket competition.[11][12]”

      ” the NCAA sanctions a championship for literally every other major college sport, and does it through a playoff, or tournament. That is, except for college football!”

      MLB has antitrust protection … the NCAA does not.

      Like

  102. Good news — Will Jeffress turned 18 this month!

    Heard Coach Capel saying Will’s the most athletic player on the team (course X-Man and Champ are gone). Saw a video where Jeffress looked like he was working hard to get stronger.

    Also saw a bit of video of incoming Freshman Santos – seems to have a smooth, compact shooting motion…

    I’m guessing we may be better at 3 or 4 positions this season, but not by much. Those power forward guys are a real mystery… At least it sounds like they won’t get pushed around.

    Course we need the TEAM to play better as a TEAM, that’s the only way we make any jump…

    Go ike!

    Like

    1. The jump between soph and junior years will be off the charts. Give him another year. He’s got a high ceiling. Higher than champs.

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  103. Serena Gray, an honorable mention All American 6′-2″ middle blocker, transferred to Pitt’s volleyball team today! She is a graduate transfer and has two years of eligibility left. She was a starter at her former school … Penn State!

    This would never happen with our football program! Kudos to Coach Dan Fisher and staff! Lyke better make sure she does what is necessary to keep him happy!

    Liked by 2 people

  104. Some more follow-up on Serena Gray. She was 5th in kills per set for PSU last year and 3rd in blocks per set. She played in 56 sets. The highest number of sets played by any player was 60 sets. Coach Fisher now has a problem in giving enough playing time to everyone to keep them all happy! We may see some transfers from Pitt before the beginning of the season.

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    1. Pitt might be a preseason top 5 team

      Men’s soccer could also be

      Wrestling should be top 15

      There’s no hope for football or basketball. Shame given football has the second easiest schedule and a 5th year QB returning.

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  105. Someone tie a “Mustard” yellow ribbon ‘ round the ole oak tree at Ieks…. Leaving Cleveland and head’n back to Lay trobe today!!!!!!

    Liked by 6 people

  109. Hopefully Champagnie gets drafted high and has success. That helps recruiting for a good recruiter.

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  110. Stability = Knowing Heather will sign Narduzzi to a lifetime contract after he wins 8 games this season.

    Tex – who will need to find something stronger than bourbon.

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  111. So if I’m a grad student or undergrad working on a University research project shouldn’t I be compensated like an athlete? Education related expenses of course.
    Don’t research projects bring millions into a college and partially or fully pay employee salaries?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes you should. You’re a grad assistant helping to find the cure for cancer. Far more important than a stupid jock. College is a cesspool of incompetent bureaucrats. The tea sippers in the ivory towers are the only ones making coin. Everyone else is hustling for a can of beans without bacon.

      Tex – who knows what a Nitter zombie feels like after 4 hours of sleep in 48 hours. At this point did Joe know. Did he even poop his pants? My Texas ranch for some good 💤

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  112. Looks like this is a big football recruiting weekend for Pitt. They need to get some commitments this weekend since July is a dead period for recruiting.

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    1. How many Elon recruits are coming to campus? 🤠

      I think Narduzzi has a difficult time with the number 4. Now the number two is winner, winner chicken dinner.

      Tex – who prefers dry aged steak done medium rare. Chicken is for bait.

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  113. I know some are hard on Capel. He did inherit a dumpster fire. He does make well over $3 million. I’ll give him another two years to prove it. Narduzzi has proven he’s mediocre over 6 years. I’m calling it now. Pitt loses to Western Michigan. The wheels come off.

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    1. Capel’s coaching IMO hasn’t been the issue at all. His going about trying to build a roster with top 50 recruits and being left in the dust is the problem. I agree he should get two more years to attain a winning record. I’m looking forward to watching this team in Nov-Dec, but come ACC play the Ls will start to pile, again.

      Capel had his eyes opened like many other Pitt coaches have in the past. They realize soon into their coaching tenures that Pitt has a major Pitt problem. No one has proven to be good enough to rise above it.

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      1. Howland and Dixon rose above it early in their tenures I should add. Then Dixon had his budget slashed, no leadership as it was musical chairs with the ADs, the leaders let the Pete look outdated with no upgrades and his teams were nothing like the ones from the 2001-2011.

        SOP.

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        1. Pitt was very uncomfortable with the success that Dixon had and quickly made sure he fell back to earth. Lol. Success bring expectations which cost money …

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        2. Remember how Howland came in with the “Recruit to Shoot” philosophy? He was smart enough to realize that wouldn’t work at Pitt and he changed his approach.

          Capel has had Pitt playing pretty decent at times – even against good teams. Hopefully he is finding the right personnel-approach now…

          Go Pitt.

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    2. I called that one first a few weeks ago.

      6-6 seems to be what we’ll get from Whip & Duzz.

      Like

      1. W Mich has numerous good athletes from Pittsburgh – KP will throw 2 conservative picks and the run game will be non-existent coming off a loss to Tennessee, a game Duzz should win.

        Two losses in September seems to be SOP all over again.

        Hoping I’m wrong…

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  114. Duzz has had enough time. Agreed. Except he’s as successful as every coach the last 40 years. lol. Fire him and we’ll end up with some more 5-7 to 9-4 seasons in 4 years …

    I’m fine with Capel. He inherited an incredibly bad situation. I don’t care how much he makes. Irrelevant. Does not affect anyone on this board.

    I know some players who left did well but they would not have been set up for success here. In addition to the mess he inherited, college basketball also systematically changed with the freedom of movement created by the transfer portal. Every coach in America is adjusting to it. Roy Williams quit because of it. Coach K retired because of it. Coach Cal is seriously considering one more shot at the NBA because of it. It’s hard to judge any college basketball coach right now until the dust settles and we see what the sport turns into. I would not feel confident firing Capel only because I’m not sure what you look for in your next coach … Do you hire a coach who can work the transfer portal? Do you hire a recruiter? Do you go basic and hire a good coach that gets kids who stay awhile but will never peak? Do you hire a coach that can recruit corporate sponsors to offer the kids likeness dollars? I honestly don’t know. Keep what you have until you know what you need. Right now, no one knows in the sport knows what the sport will look like in 3 years.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Capel is okay as long as he can recruit. His game day coaching is no better or worse than the rest.

      The only thing that matters is “are our guys better than your guys!”

      Liked by 1 person

  115. Do you know it’s bring your dog to work day today?

    I of course visited the liquor store and there was a guy with his dog there. I made a smart butt comment to the clerk and she told me what day it was.

    Happy dog day Price and Ollie.

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  116. One Guess on what I bought but there was a second buy. A shot to the person who guesses right. And no it wasn’t vinegar.

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            1. mad dog 20/20——-he too was a pirate! Bill Madlock and it was take your dog to work day so i am thinking you hit the sauce at work. It all adds up!

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  117. So a kid can make money off his likeness…how will that work? Realistically he needs a lawyer to broker fare deals. Can he hire a lawyer or take money from an agent? Can they make money not wearing their college uniform?
    The cheating level will be off the charts.

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  118. It’s like the first states that legalized marijuana. They legalized it, then went, oh crap, how are we running this, who gets license, how do we regulate it, etc. No plan.

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    1. Texas – the one state that hasn’t legalized Texas Holdem. We invented that highly popular poker game. All our tax dollars go to those Okies on those Indian reservations. Galveston was once Vegas before Vegas.

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      1. That bill on the ballot this fall to build four casinos in Texas likely won’t pass either.

        Dallas Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio would be the first three locations. Of course they’d be family-style casinos with splash pads, etc.

        Drove to Laredo once from Austin and had my Bugsy Seigel moment passing through one of of those small towns an hour-plus past San Antonio and seeing a town already with a bunch of hotels off the freeway. I think it is Cotulla. Said to my wife this should become a casino hotspot town and outgrow El Paso in 10 years or so. Build an infrastructure, homes, schools, airport and people would move there in droves. Being a warm climate helps, too.

        I thought Amazon should have considered doing that when searching for its next factory location.

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  119. MD raked in over 100 million last month from gambling.
    And that was before sports betting was authorized.
    Wait until FB starts.

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  121. That Capel tweet had a certain edge to it. I think he is reading this blog and doesn’t like that some people have written him off. Some even had him desperately wanting out and negotiating his buy out. It is hard to recruit when the high school players read this stuff. I give him a lot of credit for hanging tough.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Some fatherly advice I use is to never use social media or what is written by anonymous people on forums to measure your worth. To build you up or tear you down. Listen to your father or coach.

        I agree with Huff on this one.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Agree in spirit but social media can ruin lives…and it has.
          Its the base of cancel culture.

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  123. Me thinks that Capel saw the writing on the wall when Schirer was announced as next Duke coach and he knew he needed to start recruiting asap or his career was indeed in jeopardy.

    This crap that he planned to have the house implode so he could see who would stay is garbage. Old saying that many coaches fearing an implosion will say to kids that those that stay will be rewarded with playing time and also that they often will face adversity in life and it is how you handle the bad things that strengthen you as a person. Consider me not impressed with his effort thus far as the Pitt coach.

    Consider me an optimist that he can turn things around if the AD leaves him alone.

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