Two of the biggest names in the 2007 Pitt recruiting class are DeJuan Blair and Darnell Dodson. Both are hitting the high school all-star circuit hard.
On Thursday Dodson played in the Capital Classic and had 18 or 20 points.
DeJuan Blair is in France for an all-star game.
Reports, though, are that both are not yet academically eligible to play for Pitt next year. Yes, Blair may have gotten the SAT scores in order, but there are still the grades portion that remains unfinished. I’m hopeful, but he’s not there yet.
Colin Dunlap for the P-G, however, really hates the HS all-star games. Or at the very least, he resents the fact that part of his job is to cover them.
To put it mildly I’m completely disgusted by these decisions, in reference to moving the Pitt vs. Navy game to Wednesday, who in there right mind wants to watch college football on a Wednesday night? I’m sure the students do not, nor do I prefer or believe that any employed individual would appreciate the date and time (kickoff probably after 7pm midweek) of this game. Then why was this done? I’m assuming this game was moved to facility ESPN’s scheduling roster due to the revised Big East contractual TV obligations, as set forth in the new Big East / ESPN TV contract. If this is the case then it is a very sad day for the University and the Alumni, it proves to me my alma mater has sold out to highest bidder.
Any way you look at it it’s a lose lose situation, it’s a loss for the University, a detriment to the alumni, and a challenge to the students. Who cares if the game is on a Wednesday if no one shows up for the game or watches it on tv? Over the past 10 years I have dutifully purchased 4 tickets in section 110 and have faithfully attended each of these games with my family and friends to the end of each game regardless of the score or the weather. My family members and friends who have accompanied me each of the last 10 years drive in from Baltimore, New York City, and Indiana, PA, over the course of these last 10 years we have never missed a game. Unfortunately, due to the incredibly asinine decision made by this administration my family and friends will be prohibited from attending the Navy game due to the revised scheduling by this department. The alleged allure of “prime time exposure” is nothing more than a myth, Pitt will be hard pressed to fill the stands on a Wednesday evening, and in the end Pitt will look very foolish indeed. It will be another embarrassing episode of a marque opponent coming to town to play in an empty stadium, with the TV announcers harping on it all game long. Shame on Pitt!
Finally, in regards to awarding non-Pitt season ticket holders such coveted rewards (buy one season ticket for $199 and receive a second for $10 dollars more) is a slap to the face of every current ticket holder. I have paid your ever increasing ticket prices and donation requests never waivering in my support, and what have I received for my support? Nothing but a mediocre product over the last two years with the promise of some good times to come in 2008. As repeat ticket holder I have never been given a discount (your internet ticket repurchase plan is a joke) nor have I received anything worth noting.
My response is why shouldn’t I as a long time season ticket holder receive the same benefits as that of someone who purchases a season ticket package for the first time? Shouldn’t the season ticket holders who have been there in both good and bad receive the benefits of such a program and not just that of the bandwagon fans?
The current price for a Pitt football season ticket, even though it may be on par with other D-1 schools is a detriment to the growth of the fan base. The price required to attend these football games drives alumni such as myself to question our continued renewal, especially in light of decisions such as the Wednesday night game scenario previously alluded to, yet Pitt continually feels the need to raise ticket prices to $199 for each ticket plus the requirement of an additional $100 per seat license and now $80 for parking. This equates to me having to shell out close to $1,400.00 for the upcoming football season to watch, South Fl., Navy, Syracuse, UConn, Virginia, Grambling, and some other no name school…based on this departments continued detrimental decisions, I may intend to spend my disposable income on more fulfilling extra curricular endeavors then the 2007 Pitt football game package.
Sincerely,
Marc V. Taiani, Esq.
Pitt Alumni (2001) & Season Ticket Holder since 1998.
I appreciate your comments and don’t totally disagree with you but a few observations:
1) The promotion is to attract new season ticket-holders. By lowering the price, Pitt hopes to do just that. Not unlike a local cable company offering a deal to attract new customers (3 months for $19.95 etc.). Pitt’s thinking is to attract more patrons, existing ones get to keep or upgrade seat levels, and existing ones have had the opportunity to “enjoy†Pitt’s product over the years. Obviously we have stunk but that’s a different topic.
2) The university is completely in it for the money. No one is going to argue the benefits of athletics, clubs and the like with regards to a young person’s education, but a few years back-when Nordenberg came on board, the university starting heading in a different (better) direction. Most schools try to finance their athletics with their premiere sport (i.e. Alabama-football, Duke-hoops) but Pitt doesn’t really have a premiere sport(yet)-just one solid one-men’s hoops and one below average-football. These sports have to finance all of the other programs. You can’t have a model that loses money every year just so that the football schedule works for some loyal fans (which you appear to be and I respect). I’m a few years older than you, but when I was there, there was talk of canceling football program to make room for UPMC.
3) I worked in education (now in sales) but can tell you that Pitt is actually a hot school right now for high schoolers-great facilities, programs, and school spirit. SAT scores have risen dramatically and we have more Rhodes Scholars than any other school in PA over the last ten years, (yes including uPenn). I attribute this largely to the chancellor. (and as a side, not sure I could even get in right now-and I have two masters degrees!)
I’m not going to insult your intelligence, but big time college athletics is all about the money. There is no way (at least right now) that a major TV station will televise a Pitt v. xyz opp. over any Big 10 game on a Saturday or any SEC game on a Saturday night.
I think that if you take the time to submit your argument you’re (in the very least) apt to gain response and some personal reparations for your trouble; your not going to change the department’s sales-marketing strategy, but some personal gratification in the shape of a ticket plan matching what’s currently offered should come your way.
And don’t shy away from mentioning your intent: that you’ve considered (and haven’t out ruled) the purchase of advertising space (insert local paper) to address the disservice and thereby facilitate response to the argument in question: “Shouldn’t the season ticket holders who have been there in both good and bad receive the benefits of such a program and not just that of the bandwagon fans?”
Just a thought, albeit you seem to me headed in this direction already
ï® Neil (In Phila.)
