I may be in the minority on at least wanting the Backyard Brawl on some sort of rotation for the football non-con (good hate is so hard to find), so a home-and-(delayed)-home with Marshall isn’t exactly the same. But given Marshall’s relationship with WVU, and the outrage it is generating south of Pittsburgh. Well, I have to respect a scheduling troll move like that.
I’m not saying that Pitt has been sticking it to WVU over comments made by their AD three years ago. I think the comments still speak for themselves.
“But my sense is they will be interested in maintaining the football rivalry with us. We bring 25,000 fans to Heinz Field. We fill it up. Pitt is not filling up Heinz Field on their own, so that game from a financial perspective is pretty important to them.”
Funny thing. Since those comments there has been no serious attempts to schedule WVU in football.
It was a classic Ollie Luck arrogant comment. You can make an economic argument for why Pitt should play the Hoopies. But it is far, far more important to WVU. Not simply financially in filling the stadium. From a point of recruiting in Western PA to engaging with their fanbase in the region.
That also completes the opponents list for the next two years.
2015 non-con: YSU, at Akron, at Iowa and ND
2015 conference home: Miami, UNC, UVa and Louisville
2015 road: Duke, GT, VT, Syracuse
—
2016 non-con: Villanova, PSU, at OK St., Marshall
2016 home: Duke, GT, VT, Syracuse
2016 road: Miami, UNC, UVa and Clemson
2015 is a respectable schedule and 2016 is kind of loaded — at least looking at it in 2014.
@wbb, beat both times in Knoxville.
Found this interesting site
Has the Div 1 teams. Pick your team, then if you want, pick a team to compare, and it pulls all the games up between them.
Has lots of other information.
Where I saw we played them both times in Knoxville.
I see Pitt has a losing record to the likes of Cornell, Lafayete, and Cleveland Naval Reserve; but more alarming, we a combined 0 and 8 against Latrobe AC, Pgh East End and Pgh Lyceum …. but at least battled to a tie in our only meeting with New Castle AC.
We are 61-40-1 against the Hoopies.
Put the temporary demise of Pitt-West Virginia in the same garbage bin as the Pitt script issue. Pederson hates to be criticized. He bans “fire Steve Pederson signs” at home games. He hates the script because he is criticized for his pompous ass position of not allowing even one throwback game a year.
Pitt’s uniforms with the washed out yellow pajamas look horrible from the waist down and totally symbolize what Pitt football has descended to under pathetic leadership. It’s the jazz age for college uniforms and Pitt is wearing pajamas.
After going behind the backs of the other Big East football members’ presidents, Nordenberg (and lap dog Pederson) were rightly criticized.
Oliver Luck (along with one of the best A.D.s in the USA – Louisville’s Jurich)publicly criticized Pitt. So that puts the Mounties in the Pederson’s my ego is way too big for this “don’t play” column, with Jamie Dixon urging Pederson on.
He thinks, ‘I gave those asshole Pitt fans their precious PITT back. I’m not compromising on anything else.’
The idea that not playing West Virginia is hurting Pitt’s recruiting is complete bullshit. Pitt out-recruited the Mounties when we had coaches (and administrations) that supported the football program. Majors landed Tony Dorsett during the height of the Pitt-WVU hatred.
The problem with Pitt’s recruiting is the deadpan, barely verbal coach and a dishonest, two-faced A.D. who publicly says one thing while doing the exact opposite.
I’m sure Pitt recruits will be motivated to attend Pitt when they attend the Pitt-Villanova game. I can’t wait for that one. Baited breath.
Yes, folks, under Steve Pederson the metamorphosis of Pitt football into Temple at the Vet (or Link, I think they have lots of empty red or green seats) in moving along nicely.
The fact that we are playing YSU again just shows how right Wanny was in his criticisms of Pederson.
I would love to be in the position that Pitt football didn’t need WVU to sell tickets. Of course, Pitt would need an A.D. who supports the football program 100% and doesn’t demand suspensions of players that are totally out of line with Pitt’s competitors.
Having standards in line with your competitors is rule no. 1 in the idiots guide to winning. Pederson’s antics are described throughout the book.
West Virginia brought the largest crowd to watch Pitt football at Heinz in 2002. It’s a shame Rutherford/Harris blew that game, beginning the Steve Pederson trend of losing almost all big games at home. Thank you, Steve.
Not playing the Mounties just proves again how Pitt is its own worst enemy football. No A.D. works harder against his own program than Steve should-have-never-been rehired Pederson.
Enjoy, folks.
40th all-time — not sure if its the percentage or total wins
But I also remember he leading them back and could have tied the game if Larry Fitz was able to hold on to the ball in the endzone with about a minute left (not an easy catch though)
Take the 1998 Pitt uniforms – for color shades of navy blue and old gold – with new design. Vegas gold pants with stripes instead of pajamas. Would look great. No Pittsburgh logo across chest.
I’m not pushing for a return to the script. I am pushing for throwback uniforms once or twice a year – and that could include block-cut Pittsburgh and Dino (who has ever really disappeared).
Agree about coaching hire fiascos. Amazing he survived.
New chancellor: silence is telling. All I’ve heard him say is “balance” between academics and athletics. Who can disagree with that? But what I heard was status quo.
What I’ve read indicates Gallagher is going to be all UPMC, all academics, bottom line.
What would be informative is a discussion/description of the trustees. Who are they? What do they stand for?
Which two are solidly in Pederson’s column? One is affectionately known by some Pitt fans as “The General.” He was willing to praise Pederson in print.
Changing the focus towards Pitt football is kind of like trying to turn Texas blue. It could happen, it might be inevitable eventually, not happening soon, or probably in many of our lifetimes. (that’s for the over 50 folks on here)
You guys who don’t live in the heart of Hoopieland like me don’t get it. I wear PITT on my sleeve and take and give out a lot of grief to these hillbillies–and I love it! Just need to right the ship and beat VT.
The fact that Marshall University busses will be driving up I-79 and pass Morganhole on their way to Pittsburgh is a dream come true. Whoever concocted that matchup has an ax to grind. I’m NOT a Smug Steve fan BTW Go Pitt!!
HJ2P!!!
Case in point: 1989 Pitt season, a good sold year, 8-3-1, coach fired (typical Pitt decision to fire a coach after a successful season?). Actual attendance for year 263,198, or 43,866 for six home games including one outlier in East Carolina: 35,000 tickets were sold but only 21,862 showed up due to harsh weather. Game day attendance was listed at 21,862, not tickets sold.
So we’re just being hood-winked by Pitt concerning game day attendance.
Hopefully Marshall will bring the same number of fans West Virginia brought (and, remember, the largest crowd for a Pitt game at Heinz was Pitt-West Virginia 2002).
From a business standpoint makes no sense not to play West Virginia.
I understand where you’re coming from and part of me relishes the abuse we’re sending their way.
But then I look in the mirror and what I see is Joe Paterno looking back at me.
Do you want to be Joe Paterno?
First, did you see the story about the NJ High school that is suspending the rest of its season because of the hazing of players. I will spare you the disgusting details. But, one of the alleged perpetrators is a kid who has committed to Penn State. A 4-star, I think. Tell me that he is not a perfect fit. Maybe he can visit Jerry S in his prison cell.
And, in his testimony yesterday about the Vandy rape case, Franklin now says that he lied to the players. Oh, James. What else will we find out?
H2P
Fact of the matter is, The University of Pittsburgh is superior to Ped State and WVCC in all aspects–academics, research, overall athletics and class. They may have more alumni because enrollments are larger but facts are facts and I know that you guys know this, I’m preaching to the choir here.
I was also behind, and was actually looking to see if anyone had mentioned Jersey hazing, which is now a criminal investigation, and should be.
What allegedly went on was sexual assault and should be prosecuted that way. Absolutely disgusting. This school has won a few state championships and has produced several D1 recruits.
I was not aware one of the alleged perpetrators was a Pedo St recruit. If what is said is true it is absolutely sickening, but that kid and Pedo St deserve each other…
“Penn State University head football coach James Franklin said after practice on Wednesday that he is monitoring the situation at Sayreville High School, where a member of his incoming recruiting class is Myles Hartsfield, a senior running back and defensive back.”
H2P
– Sandusky
– new coach set up a meeting of co-eds and his recuits at old school which resulted in a rape
– new president comes from a school that took no action when a female student accused QB of abuse (and he was president at that time)
– and now this
Although there is no proof that the new recruit is involved, it is becoming eery
We also were there after a last minute Pitt loss and personally witnessed several couches on fire and fans riding on top of school busses. A close WVU graduate friend directed us back to Pittsburgh. Wish I had brought a camera.
Penn State and WVU and Notre Dame cane eat shit.
H2P
Concerning ur post of 1:12, most likely the Hoopies will be lining I79 with rocks so they can “stone” Marshall’s buses as they drive by!
Conversely, I think recruiting a male practice team for the Women’s Pitt BB squad to play against indicates to me that Coach feels that her girls can compete with anybody regardless of their sex, hardly a misogynistic attitude.
George Mitchell was too easy on PSU. And Franklin? Opportunist extraordinaire – the type that usually implodes. Waiting….
Like now, I did not live in Pgh area then, and only attended select games.
The times-they-are-a-changing. The Browns are legit favorites vs the Stillers, and the Rangers may be better than Penguins this year.