It kind of worked out that I got a slightly later start. It meant I was in a tweener point, so I was able to just walk around the outside of Heinz Field for a little bit. Take in some of the things that I never do. Usually it’s just tailgate in the lot. Get into the stadium just before kickoff, stay there other than the occasional piss breaks, go back to the lot after the team leaves the field, tailgate some more.
So, for instance I never knew about the Pitt Panther at the river/open end of the stadium — never go to that side.
I didn’t get a good shot of it, but the stone pattern stretching out as if from the sculpture base is a stylized Cathedral of Learning image.
Then there are the gates to Heinz Field themselves.
I take some measure of joy in thinking about Steeler fans who are Penn State fans. It has to be a bit galling to be constantly reminded that this place is also the home of Pitt football wherever you go inside and outside.
When I first got there, I assumed that the players and their family were already there.
The rest of the photos will be below the fold.
This is why.
As I was killing time, it was hard not to notice the band, cheerleaders and dance team — euphamistically referred to as spirit groups on the Pitt website –practicing by the river bank. I went down there figuring on getting a couple typical skyline shots, the point, and some of the spirit groups.
Kind of a lucky break, actually. Turns out they were delivering the players, family, friends, more members of the dance team and students by boat.
I think they did this last year as well. What I liked about it was they walked into the stadium with friends, family, fans and well-wishers. Kind of a nice touch. Letting the players be right with everyone. It also made me realize how physically small I am in comparison.
Brief note, that little boy is Chase Abdul (the back of his shirt said “‘lil abdul”), holding his dad, David’s hand. David was there with the team and he was even on the field talking with Conor Lee. You could see it was killing him that he could be out there with the team in full.
Of course this is a family friendly event so the Junior Panther stuff was definitely for the dads kids as members of the dance team were helping.
More later.
As far as the stadium aargument goes…I don’t think sharing a stadium comes close to having one on your campus. Please don’t tell me any school desires to share a stadium off campus as a way of showing program strength. Beaver Stadium is a great stadium for a rural state school. You can’t have 100,000 people on the level of the field. That is the cost of having that type of school and stadium.
I am a strong fan with season tickets. I grew up watching Marino through a ball on my street. but I won’t lie to myself and justify Pitt’s refusal to pay for it’s image as a football power. I went to school with Chuck Scales and knew . He got to play under the lights in a classic stadium overlooking Pitt campus and having some historical sense to it. Heinz is the Steelers home and Pitt just rents it. Nothing against Pitt’s teams or the Steelers. No PSU fan is going to be jelous of this relationship with the Steelers and Downtown Pittsburgh. You might not like Beaver stadiums venue as fan. But that is the atmosphere it is supposed to be and the entire reason people chose the giant state school named PSU. Having different preferences for seating layouts is not a proper argument against spending on an on campus venue. Many articles said we had choices of refurbishing, doming, or moving the stadium and that the money was there to do it. Instead they decieded to build more hospitals, a new basketball center, and new dorms. UPMC is a product of Pitt’s investments of the past. Seperate or not on paper, they must spend on each other as needed and they won’t spend. How many years does it take to build a fricken track to attract faster recruits? If Shadyside academy can afford a track, the University can afford one. PSU is not jelous of this type of situation. That is all I’m saying.
My point is that PITT is first and foremost a public university, chartered for the education of students. A new football stadium, while nice to have – and needed in my thinking – should not come before academic interests. The lease of Heinz Field was available, PITT sucked in football and there wasn’t enough justification to outlay an exorbitant amount of money for it.
As for PITT vs PSU. It won’t happen while Paterno lives, he’s made no secret about that. And, while I had to laugh about his comment regarding playing Temple because of the fans in that side of PA, there is some validity to it. But, for whatever his reasons are, lets all face the fact that this is not going to happen, and it’s no use beating a dead horse. I, as a PITT fan, will concentrate on what is a better, and in some ways more natural, rivalry with WVU.
Stupid, man.
Not sure where a stadium could go actually, but its been so long since I lived in PGH I’ve forgotten the geography. Panther Hollow maybe – but that’s a nice area as it is now. I guess the new Schenly Plaza is something to see also.
Dokish seems to think that not having a stadium is a drawback in recruiting, but also acknowledges that sharing a space with the Steelers is seen as a plus. It probably falls way down on the list of reasons why kids (and parents) choose which school to go to. The coaching staff, practice facilities and weight rooms probably hold more draw. And, hopefully, the academics, and professional opportunities after graduating, mean something too.
That’s why I think DW’s handling of Matthews and Porter’s mid-camp homesickness was the correct approach – parents want a coaching staff that understands and looks after their sons. Sending Matthews home to discuss his future seemed to have worked out OK (however, I’ll bet DW had some long conversations with Matthew’s parents and HS coach to make sure they wanted him to stay at PITT before allowing Matthews to leave).
By the way, any skinny on a reason for DelSardo’s suspension?
Won’t be able to watch the UVA game as I’ll be in NC schmoozing with family then, but I’ll follow via the Blog. I’m thinking (hoping) it will go well for us.
Yes, Schenley Plaza IS very nice (I have taken my daughter there several times to enjoy the carousel and open lawn). I think Oakland looks great, actually (I know there are some issues with slumlords in the residential areas, but that’s true in many college towns). I love the vibrancy of the urban setting, which was the same thing that drew me there as a student.
I really do think we need our own stadium. The difficulties in obtaining land near the Hill for a track facility shows how difficult it would be these days. Maybe Panther Hollow is completely impossible now (and you’d definitely need a link to the Parkway for drivers). So maybe Second Avenue would be possible.
One bizarre idea that (apparently) only I have is that Pitt could possibly consider Greensburg for a stadium. I understand Pitt controls a large amount of desirable land where Pitt-Greensburg is.
If PITT gets a solid program together, starts winning games, getting a good graduation rate and putting more that two players a year into the NFL draft, we’ll start getting more recruits yer in and year out. DW has made a good start at this but it’s really still on emotion from his hiring and his personality.
If the question is “Do we need an on-campus stadium to be considered a first rate university” I believe the answer is no. Pitt has a solid reputation now as a good public school; we get students from all over the east, some nationally and even internationally based on what the university has to offer. And, part of what we have to offer is the city itself. Improvements in Oakland have to be made not just for the schools sake – there were crappy parts even when PITT wasn’t the huge institution it is today.
I’ll let PSU do whatever it does, and even though I’m not a big Penn State fan, I’ll give credit where its due – and Joe Pa & PSU deserve credit for their program – it’s well respected, the coach is an icon and their players seem to turn into solid citizens.
