The postponed USF-Pitt game threw off the papers today and probably for the next couple days in its coverage of Pitt. You know they would have stories on players, the USF team and its rapid ascension, a bitter recap of what happened in 2001, and so on. Well, I’m guessing those go into a computer file to be pulled and updated in December. Still, one was put through on USF’s QB. A lot of quotes from the player, but it is similar to the article earlier in the week in Tampa about how this QB didn’t throw much in high school.

Otherwise it was just an article about postponing the game. The better and more analytical article on the ramifications of the postponement came from the Trib.

The postponement is a good-news, bad-news scenario for the Panthers.

The good news is that they won’t have to deal with a short turnaround for the home opener against Ohio University a week from today. Had the game been played as scheduled, they’d have had just four days to prepare for Ohio.

Moreover, South Florida is considered a tougher opening-game opponent than Mid-American Conference member Ohio. With a youthful team, including eight new starters on offense, Pitt was an underdog against USF, but will be favored versus Ohio.

Panthers coach Walt Harris now gets extra time to prepare his young team, particularly a new starter at quarterback in Tyler Palko, a relatively inexperienced offensive line and a bevy of untested receivers. Also, the heat in Tampa will be less of a factor in December.

Pitt’s first three games this season will be at home, starting with Ohio, Nebraska (Sept. 18) and Furman (Sept. 25).

The bad news is, the game was to be televised by ESPN and the university would have got a cut of the money, in the neighborhood of $150,000. It isn’t likely the network will televise a Pitt-South Florida game in early December.

Mike Humes of ESPN said a decision would be made based on the attractiveness of the Pitt-USF game.

“We’ll look at it when it comes time and see if it’s something compelling for our viewers,” Humes said last night. “We’ll see what type of window we have available. But we can’t commit to anything at this time.”

My feelings are definitely mixed. I feared this game, but was really looking forward to seeing the first game of the season. Now, like last year, we start a week after the rest of college football. Makes it harder for me to get into that first week.

I wish I could remember what Mickey Kaus called this principle:

The government likes to release bad news when it thinks the citizens aren’t paying attention. The optimum time is just before 5 p.m. on a Friday that begins a holiday weekend.

This is a bi-partisan tradition, and can be found occurring in other countries.

Kaus expanded it to add that other departments release bad news when worse news has the press’ attention (I wish I could remember it. Really annoying to know it, but not know what it is called).

I’d say the Pitt Athletic Department followed that one to a tee. Around the time the announcement came out that the Pitt-USF game was postponed, Pitt released its full basketball schedule for 2004-05. This was released late, late afternoon as Labor Day weekend kicks off. Well done, and executed. I almost missed it when I did a check for the status of the football game.

So, how does Pitt spin the schedule — especially the absolutely pathetic non-con?

Boasting three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament’s “Sweet 16,” the Pittsburgh men’s basketball team will play a high-profile 2004-05 schedule that includes 11 nationally televised games and 12 games versus teams that finished in top 50 of last yearÂ’s Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).

The problem is, only 3 are in the non-con. That hardly compensates for 6 non-con games against teams with an RPI of 200 or higher. As for the other 9 conference RPI games, that looks like UConn (twice), Syracuse (twice), ND (twice), Providence, BC and probably Seton Hall.

Coach Jamie Dixon is (once again) the spokesman for the spin — national exposure — and naturally the focus is on the conference schedule where 9 of the 11 nationally televised games will be.

“We’re excited about the exposure our university will receive this year,” Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon said. “We will receive unprecedented national coverage, which is a reflection of our past success. We’re also excited about continuing our rivalry games in conference and playing non-conference games against a number of NCAA Tournament teams that will be seen throughout the country.

“Once again, our Big East Conference schedule speaks for itself and allows us the opportunity to play against the best teams in college basketball.”

The BE schedule may speak for itself, but the non-con is practically mute. The end of the press release portion stresses the big Pitt talking point — Pitt has the #1 winning % over the last 3 years. Yippee.

Well since they went to all the trouble of trumpeting the nationally televised games — and don’t get me wrong, I am really happy about the number since I don’t live in the Pittsburgh metro area — when will they be aired?

Tuesday, Dec. 7 at Jimmy V. Classic vs. Memphis (ESPN) Madison Square Garden
Thursday, Dec. 23 RICHMOND (ESPN2)
Saturday, Jan. 22 at Connecticut * (ESPN)
Saturday, Jan. 29 Syracuse * (ESPN)
Monday, Jan. 31 Providence * (ESPN2)
Saturday, Feb. 5 at West Virginia * (ESPN2)
Saturday, Feb. 12 Notre Dame * (ESPN)
Monday, Feb. 14 at Syracuse * (ESPN)
Sunday, Feb. 20 at Villanova * (ABC)
Saturday, Feb. 26 Connecticut * (CBS)
Monday, Feb. 28 at Boston College * (ESPN)
Saturday, March 5 at Notre Dame * (CBS)

From the last week of January on, plenty of chances to see Pitt. I just have a problem with the first half of the season where there is practically no exposure.