Author: Michaelangelo Monteleone (aka MA, MM, Mike...)

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 then #22 Miami on Thursday night.

The Week in Review 1/19/2019

The Week in Review 1/19/2019

 

If you haven’t noticed I’ve not been posting much since football season.  There are many reasons, but the internet is no place to air your dirty laundry, and so I won’t.  (It’s not all that dirty, but still).

And there are so many things I’d like to write, if I could only muster the time…

Is Kenny Pickett really any good?

How would you rate the coaching staff?

Do we really have the horses to take the coastal next year?

What was your favorite team in Pitt history?

Are we going to do better in the director’s cup?

I heard there is a new on-campus stadium feasibility study in the works (kidding kidding).

Kidding aside, there will be plenty of time for all of that and more after basketball season is over and before spring football starts (and after its over).  In the meantime, expect to see the basketball open threads published on-schedule, and a weekly “Week in Review” column starting today.   If there is really big breaking news I’m also now on EJ’s PR list, so I’ll do my best to publish the Pitt SID’s press releases so you call can comment on those.

For the Week in Review pieces, I’ll be hanging a letter grade on each day, and also the week, just because I can.  As you might guess, “A” equals “Heck of a week for Pitt sports, and we should all [insert activity here] and sing the fight song”, while “F” equals “one of the worst Pitt sports weeks in recent memory, we should all [insert activity here] to make ourselves feel better.”

Anyway, here’s our first-ever week in review. Continue reading “The Week in Review 1/19/2019” →

Victory Heights Happening?

Pitt’s facilities have been much maligned both publicly and on this blog.  Sounds like that may be changing.

Per the Pitt Sports Information Department:

University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke will host a 1 p.m. press conference on Tuesday, January 14, at the Petersen Events Center, where they will reveal plans for Pitt’s Victory Heights athletics facility project. 

The press conference will entail a speaking and visual presentation on the court, followed by a reporter question and answer session held in the media suite. In addition to Chancellor Gallagher and Athletic Director Lyke, attending media will have interview opportunities with Volleyball Coach Dan Fisher, Wrestling Coach Keith Gavin, Gymnastics Coach Samantha Snider and Track and Field/Cross Country Coach Alonzo Webb. Continue reading “Victory Heights Happening?” →

On Wisconsin

This article suggestion was submitted by frequent reader Donald Georgis

Per Donald, it’s relevant to Pitt because, “Many on the POV blog often offer comments on Wisconsin’s football program, but I don’t know if any of them really know who is responsible for its success.  Without a doubt, the credit goes to Donna Shalala who was instrumental in the resurrection of the football program at UW.  The program was in dire shape when Donna was hired as Chancellor of UW around 1990.  There was little interest in the program as evidenced by low game attendance averaging around 30,000 or so.  I am enclosing an article about the resurrection of football at UW that pretty much explains what it takes to establish the groundwork for a solid program.  Prior to her arrival, the UW administration was pretty much like Pitt’s BOT.  I would appreciate it if you would publish the article on the POV blog since it would help POVerts better understand what it takes to build a sound athletics program – at least in the view of UW.”

Here is the link to the article, and I’ve pasted the full text below. Continue reading “On Wisconsin” →