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December 6, 2015

Pitt vs Navy in Military Bowl

Filed under: Uncategorized — Reed @ 8:23 pm

Dec. 6, 2015

Bowl Central

   PITTSBURGH–For the eighth consecutive season and 32nd time overall, the Pitt football team is headed to a bowl game.

The Panthers received their official invite this afternoon from the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman and will play Navy of the American Athletic Conference in Annapolis, Md. The ESPN nationally televised game, which benefits the USO, will be played in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Monday, Dec. 28, and kick off at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

“The Military Bowl is a tremendous opportunity for our team to end the season against a nationally ranked opponent,” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “Navy is a Top 25 team with a Heisman-caliber quarterback in Keenan Reynolds. They will present us with a formidable challenge.

“Given our close proximity to Annapolis, we are looking for a great contingent of Pitt fans to make the short trek and see us play one more time this year.”

In Narduzzi’s debut season, the Panthers have compiled an 8-4 record, their winningest regular season in six years. Pitt went 6-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing as the runner-up in the Coastal Division.

Navy is 9-2 and ranked as high as No. 21 nationally. The Midshipmen conclude their regular season this Saturday against Army.

This will be the 40th meeting between Pitt and Navy–and first bowl matchup–in a series that dates back to 1912. The Panthers lead the series, 22-14-3.

Tickets and official travel packages are now available. For more details and pricing visit www.pittsburghpanthers.com/bowltickets.

 

Here is a nice story on some terrible news.

I was at sea for the last week and when I finally got a connection to The Blather re-established, and read about young Mr. Conners,  I was floored… but sadly not surprised .  I had also just received word that a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer just a few days prior to Conner’s press conference. I have a much easier time dealing with old men being sick, not with bright and shiny young men facing an illness.

This is nothing that can get any better for Conner unless he does the work himself.  Yes, he’ll have a slew of doctors, nurses, family and well-wishers surrounding him, caring and working hard for him and that will give him comfort. That is well and good.  But I will bet anyone a dollar that the very first person Conner turned to on Thanksgiving morning was his surrogate father, Mike Gallagher , who knows all about battling long odds and winning.  He’s been through very tough times on his own.

We Pitt fans all think we know what James Conner is all about, his strengths are so damn obvious, so far be it from me to disagree… but I will remind my friends on here of two things.

One is that as tough and hardened we think James Conner is, he’s still pretty much a kid and, bluster and toughness aside, he is going to have some very fearful days and nights ahead, especially if things don’t go exactly as planned.  As much as I hate to even think that it is a possibility, he may well have some steps backward on his forward journey.

Secondly, James Conner deserves not only our best wishes and prayers of all faiths and good will from all others, he also needs and deserves his privacy.   If I see him somewhere in my travels here is what I plan to do. I’ll ask him how he’s feeling then quickly change the subject.  He may appreciate something like that more than we know.  I’ll let him keep his troubles to himself.

Even as we know that 85-95% odds are fantastic, and I do believe he’ll beat this, I don’t believe it will happen because he’s a tough guy or a star football player. It will happen because he has perhaps the biggest heart of any young man I’ve ever met.  His life revolves around others when it could so easily revolve around himself as so many “stars” or pseudo-stars seem to ensure happens.  “Look at me!” isn’t in James Conner’s vocabulary.

I’m a firm and strong believer in Karma and have been ever since I was Conners age.  I feel that there is a 110% return on good deeds done and not just the normal ones like being a good son or daughter or being a good parent… but good deeds that are extraordinary and hard things to start and finish. Conners doesn’t shy away from other’s pain and suffering as so many of us do – that is what he faces head on with all of his strength and force of will.

To put it simply he does the hard work so that others may find comfort.  There is no more greater and gracious act than that.

Karma sits on his strong and broad shoulders and is on his side. His life of good works as they are many and legion, along with his doctors, family, well wishers, prayers and of course his own willpower, is what will push him in this fight.

I have been so impressed with this young man since I first met and talked with him and Mike Gallagher early on in the 2013 fall camp.  I will pray and root and will for him to win this battle…. but in my heart I know it is his life to live… and I’ll let him get on with it without any more words on the matter from me.

Oh… and at this point I really don’t give a damn if he plays another down for the Panthers. Life is so much more than that.  If he feels he needs to do it then fine, but I’ll easily trade my wanting to see him in a Pitt uniform again for one nausea and pain-free day for him in a Coast Guard second (and that’s quick!).

 

 





I’m still processing the Conner news conference. Sometimes it is just the way it is and you must step up to the plate and start swinging. Hopefully James hits a home run as a result of this bad news. One thing is for sure, he’ll have a personal frame of reference in the future when he visits hospital patients.

Now on to our bowl game fortunes. I am just so fed up with whining fans. Yeah we got kinda got screwed but the facts are that we are pitted against a good Navy team in a location that is real easy to travel to. So quit whining , take a day off from work and go visit Annapolis. Geez.

Comment by Dr. Tom 12.06.15 @ 8:40 pm

In 1978 at the Gator Bowl Clemson had 50,000 plus fans, Pitt had less than 8000. Pit was highly ranked, a year removed from a National Championship and destroyed Clemson. That kind of started our reputation as a very poor traveling fan base

Anyhow, you can all stay at my house! See you on the 28th!

Comment by Dan 72 12.06.15 @ 8:46 pm

Pitt got jobbed and by the top 25 they can sell Navy as a ranked opponent but I would love to hear how Duke is in NYC. Was hoping for a Florida bowl since I’ll be there for the holidays but it looks like unless Pitt wins the ACC that may never happen. In the Big East we played in the Liberty, Fiesta, Sun, and what is now Belk-the ACC has given us Pizza, Armed Forces, and Military. Tell me again why this was a good move…….

Comment by John 12.06.15 @ 9:09 pm

Dan72 – Yes, and I’ll host a few Pitt fans here … and we’ll have a pre-game night out for a needed Blather meet and greet with song, wine women and booze. You guys bring the women and I’ll buy you a beer.

I don’t get what Pitt fans are complaining about here.

Yes, Narduzzi’s first season was a feel-good eight win year but the facts are that it was an eight win year. Not a great track record for a bigger bowl. Hate to say it but outside of WPA no one really cares much about Pat Narduzzi and Pitt… we are a team like 100+ others who aren’t the big football factories. Teams get new coaches all the time and as well as Narduzzi has done this year – I’m happy as hell about it – it wasn’t earthshaking.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing a nine win 21st ranked team on their home turf.

It is a fantastic road trip for fans, a valuable win, if we can pull it out, against a very good Service Academy – where the kids make up for a lack of great talent with killer determination.

Listen, If I can drag my ass up to PGH to watch pretty crappy football over the last ten years then Pitt fans can make the 4.5 hour drive down to Maryland to see a good Pitt team against a good Navy team.

Add a day or two onto the football visit. The game is on a Monday so come down over the weekend and visit the Naval Academy, especially the museum and the famous Chapel, and enjoy the trip in every way. But under no circumstances miss the Cadets March from the Academy to the stadium, then into formation on the field before the game. It is pomp and circumstance at its finest and should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Speaking of rankings look at this CBS poll – Pitt is nowhere to be found…literally

link to cbssports.com

Comment by Reed 12.06.15 @ 9:16 pm

FYI for any Blatherites who have kids that are current students or are friends with a current student…in addition to game tickets, friends and family of students can get a bus/game ticket package ordered through the student for $80! I’m assuming the student has to go too for this deal. Game tix for students are free and the game/bus package for students is $25. Bus locations are Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Erie, Philadelphia, and WashingtoN DC. Bus packages not associated with the students start at $265 pp. I have a son graduating in 2 weeks and I am hoping to be able to take advantage of this deal.

Comment by PittPT 12.06.15 @ 9:23 pm

JC will get through this and he has my best wishes and prayers. This only will add to his legendary status in Pitt Football lore.

If we wanted a better bowl we shouldn’t have come out and sleep walked through the first half of the games we lost. Hope this a lesson.

I’m planning to attend this game, take a day off of work, and cheer my Panthers to victory. Hope to see many of my Blather Brothers there as well. Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Panther Fan in Hoopieland 12.06.15 @ 9:28 pm

This was by far the best bowl matchup available to us. We get to take on a ranked opponent in a city that is awesome.

Comment by HbgFrank 12.06.15 @ 9:31 pm

This is kind of a Jekyll and Hyde situation…I think we as a fanbase have a legitimate bitch about the fact that we got a second tier bowl (lack of respect, etc) but really could work out well as I hear Annapolis is a great city and the Service Academy game day pageantry is awesome, and if Pitt wins, could find themselves in the top 25 for the final ranking. I’m in personally…

Comment by PittPT 12.06.15 @ 9:39 pm

Frankly I would rather go to a game at historic Annapolis than NYC, or even the BBVA bowl especially on the heels of the most recent terror attack. Unfortunately I made a previous commitment for that day with my brother’s widow (hope there is TV to tape). As to the present unimportance of Pitt, while we all love Pitt, sadly we have been insignificant on the national stage for so long we don’t leap to the minds of others outside Pittsburgh. This is why PN who is doing an excellent job has to mine recruits, it takes time to be important nationally again.

What I will bitch about is our joke of a junior high looking home field. Watching the Steeler game the end zone is spectacular with NFL logo, yardlines brightly painted, hell they have even painted the grass. Over 200 K of public money went into the stadium, the Steelers contribution came from seat licenses and TV money. How did it develop it was their stadium. AD Barnes please address this and quit being a Eunuch on the field conditions.

In the 1960s my cousin was a small college All American DB at U of SW Oklahoma. He was diagnosed with lymphoma at Conner’s age when the treatment was brutal and success not as likely. He recently passed at the age of 68. We only cared of his survival. I too would downplay asking him of his health if I met him, it is a tougher road than you think. Good luck and you are in my thoughts and prayers Mr.Conner.
HAIL TO PITT

Comment by rkb 12.06.15 @ 9:41 pm

@ Reed — My last post on the Blather is reinforced, no one outside of Pittsburgh even knows Pitt has a football team. When I mention Pitt in Georgia they think Pittsburgh Steelers. That said, Pitt in the Military Bowl is a very good matchup. Navy will be favored.

Comment by MariettaMike 12.06.15 @ 9:49 pm

too many bowls? There is now an Arizona Bowl .. and two MWC (Colo St vs Nevada) play each other

Comment by wbb 12.06.15 @ 9:55 pm

My thoughts are this is close enough to travel to and it’s a game against a top 25 team. Not too bad. Now, it is a tier 2 bowl and for that reason alone, we’re all feeling screwed. But, who knows what happened? Maybe we’ll be in a better position next year to argue for a better spot.

H2P

Comment by panther94 12.06.15 @ 10:01 pm

wbb – making someone watch that game would be torture. pretty soon there will be a Toilet Bowl sponsored by Koehler.

Comment by rkb 12.06.15 @ 10:02 pm

I’ll do an article on Annapolis, the Naval Academy and logistics later but here is the best kept secret for parking at the Navy Games:

SATELLITE PARKING

Satellite parking is available at the Harry S Truman Park and Ride, located on Harry S Truman Parkway just off Riva Road.

Shuttle service begins five (5) hours prior to the start of the game. Service continues throughout all games, ending approximately two (2) hours after each game’s completion. The shuttle runs approximately every 20 minutes, and drops off and picks up at the Navy Ticket Office at the Class of 1953 Pavilion.
Designated handicap accessible shuttles are available.

Shuttle service is provided by Annapolis Bus Company, Inc.

Directions to Satellite Parking: Exit US 50 at Aris T. Allen Blvd. [MD 665] (exit #22) and bear to the right (Riva Rd. exit). Right turn on Riva Rd. Right turn on Harry S. Truman Pkwy. Park & Ride is located on the right just before the MVA.

This is where I park every time – it is free and only a ten minute bus ride (also free) to the stadium. Getting to and from that parking lot is very easy also.

I would suggest that you get there early though and that’s fine because then you can get to the stadium and walk around all the tailgates and just absorb a great gameday atmosphere.

Here is the Google Map with directions from Pittsburgh... 4 hrs drive approx.

Comment by Reed 12.06.15 @ 10:07 pm

Amen to what most of you all have said.

Rather than whining about what we didn’t get, let’s objectively embrace who we. An eight win team with a fan base that doesn’t travel that well. I’m excited about the opportunity to go to Annapolis again and hope to see a good turnout from Pitt fans. What a wonderful setting for a football game and a great opponent to hoot. I hope to meet some of you there!

#ConnerStrong!

Comment by Joe L 12.06.15 @ 10:07 pm

I will gather a group of friends and order tickets thru the University. Already have a few signed up.

Comment by Frank MD 12.06.15 @ 10:12 pm

This game is a great opportunity for Pitt fans and the team. Indiana or Minnesota with their very mediocre records would not have been good Pitt bowl opponents this year and Wisconsin wasn’t going to happen. While being in New York during the holiday season would be wonderful Annapolis is a terrific town and Navy Is a respected opponent with whom we have a long history. (Remember T.D. banging into that crowd of Midshipmen and emerging on the other side and into the end zone with the intercollegiate rushing record?) Remember those games in Pittsburgh when they brought the Corps of Midshipmen and they marched in pregame? Annapolis is much easier to get to from Pittsburgh and way more accessible to those of us who live in the Baltimore Washington area. My wife and I just rescheduled Megabus and hotel reservations for New York and we will see you in Annapolis on Dec. 28. H2P!

Comment by OPFM 12.06.15 @ 10:17 pm

I love Navy and Annapolis. Pitt has the perfect team to beat Navy. Small and quick on defense. No worrying about Navy’s passing attack. Navy cannot defend Pitts running attack and offensive line.

Just pissed that the Pedophiles get the Gator Bowl.

Comment by Dan 72 12.06.15 @ 10:18 pm

Maybe we can find a group of Blatherites before or after game. H2P

Comment by Frank MD 12.06.15 @ 10:19 pm

Frank – we’ll have to work that out.

May I suggest that people get hotel rooms in Columbia, MD (where I live) and then drive to the game in the morning. It is only 30-45 minutes away from the stadium and a nice place on its own. Last Pitt-Navy game a group came down and did that and enjoyed it.

Comment by Reed 12.06.15 @ 10:32 pm

I went the last two times Pitt played at Navy. You can leave at half time and go out and ummm….tailgate some more, then go back in.

Pitt fans cannot travel to downtown Pittsburgh for a game, then a higher percentage that can, cannot stay past the 3rd quarter.

Comment by dcpinpgh 12.06.15 @ 10:35 pm

Hi Reed. I can drive from Frederick to the place where you want to meet. My van can hold seven skinny people or 6 or 5???.

Comment by Frank MD 12.06.15 @ 10:45 pm

Thank God! Reason prevals somewhere in this world! This is a dumb luck situation for us. Close (I ordered 2_to this game a week ago), against a top 25 team, in a great place where hotel rooms won’t be $400.00 per night. Thinking of heading down Saturday night and spending the weekend. Columbia sounds great to me!
Why are people whining? Because they love to bitch and moan as it is less expensive than buying a ticket to watch Pitt play.

Comment by Sfpitt 12.07.15 @ 5:12 am

I’d rather PITT play MISS ST in the Bell bowl.

Comment by Pittastic 12.07.15 @ 5:39 am

So the Miami game kept on giving yesterday. Pitt received the 8th place ACC (2nd tier) bowl game after finishing 4th in the league. Ha…
The only way to stop this “Miami game giving” thing is to beat the #21st ranked Navy Midshippmen on their home turf.

Let go do this…

Duzz and Conk have three weeks to prepare. 2-1/2 weeks if you count Christmas and travel. Our offense should have their way with the Navy D if we focus on a smash mouth, run the ball down their throat game plan (BIG IF).

For many Pitt fans who work, this could be a tough game to get to – the Monday after the Christmas weekend has been taken at our office since the summer. But, this could be the last Pitt game for our superstar WR, T.Boyd. Come if you can and support a young man who has represented our university well. I know he hasn’t been perfect, but who is?

Besides the top one or two ACC bowl games, there really isn’t much to get excited about. Look at the B1G and PAC10 bowl games – the pedos (at 7-5) are going to the Gator Bowl against Georgia. The ACC has a very weak bowl selection, so to remedy that we need to win the Coastal and the conference championship game next year.

But first we need to beat the mighty Midshippmen.

HTP!

Comment by Erie Express 12.07.15 @ 6:07 am

FWIW – I agree with sentiment that a Military Bowl spot vs Navy in Annapolis is certainly not anything to be angry with. It is accessible and a fine place to be.

Also, an 8 and 4 record is fine compared to our recent past but not sure why people think we are a Top 25 team. We just beat the teams we were supposed to, which was a step forward, and that’s it.

I am most thrilled by what the future holds than anything else.

Comment by wbb 12.07.15 @ 6:30 am

The Belk Bowl would prefer a Carolina team, and I just read that both Duke and Indiana have a good reputation for traveling to NYC … even if it is for basketball. Again, all Pitt did was to qualify for a handful of bowls .. and then it’s up to the bowls to select from the ACC list

Comment by wbb 12.07.15 @ 6:36 am

Here’s hoping for a Pitt win so we can join the ranks of the top 25 at 9-4…

The logic here outside the ranking possibility is Pitt fans don’t travel well so let’s piss them off and send them to a bowl close to Pittsburgh…I’m thinking there’s a little flaw in that….

Comment by Tony77019 12.07.15 @ 6:52 am

I think it’s crappy that this an away game for us, but I don’t have to spend money on plane tickets so this and NYC were the only two locations I could make it to.

I’m in for my first bowl game! Hope playing GA Tech earlier in the year helps us for the option attack.

Comment by AJ 12.07.15 @ 7:33 am

@@@@@@

Conference splits the aggrgate bowl money. Quality opponent.
Historic city. Chance for ninth win. Whats not to like?
Just get the W!!

Comment by JR 12.07.15 @ 7:39 am

Reed – thanks for all the info. I’ve been to Annapolis and the Academy many times. Great place, great fans and great people all around.

So, it is what it is, let’s stop bitching and buy some tickets, get some friends to buy some tickets and “show up” for this game. That’s how we play our part in the rebuilding.

Comment by htp123 12.07.15 @ 7:40 am

I got on the phone and booked a room at the Annapolis Inn for the 27th (my 64th BD) and the 28th then bought a pair of tickets from Pitt sitting in section F row 29..I am pleased with the bowl and especially the worthy foe..btw Chick and Ruth’s deli has rooms for rent upstairs for $99 per night..not the Marriot but a cheap place to crash..We have a reputation of not traveling and supporting our boys with these bowl committees..that monkey is on our collective backs..See you there!!! Hail to PITT

Comment by BigB 12.07.15 @ 7:43 am

Reed

I asked this in two earlier posts and may have missed the answer. Do you know if there is a fund set up to help the Conner’s family with the costs associated with his care?

H2P

Comment by pmdH2P 12.07.15 @ 7:56 am

pmdh2p – I don’t know but will ask EJ Borghetti.

One thing to remember is that Conner is on a full ride scholarship for up to five years (and I can’t see Pitt asking him to ‘move on after next season) and the players are all covered 100% by medical insurance set up by Pitt also.

Not to sound harsh but his situation is pretty well covered both educationally and financially but again, I’ll ask EJ what the status is.

Comment by Reed 12.07.15 @ 9:02 am

Thanks, Reed. As you undoubtedly know, there may be costs (e.g., his mom coming down to Pgh during some of his treatment protocol and staying in motels, etc.) that are not covered.

H2P

Comment by pmdH2P 12.07.15 @ 9:27 am

Looking at where the other ACC teams landed – Louisville is the only team I’d be willing to trade places with…

Washington State in the Sun Bowl… No thanks
Indiana in NYC.. maybe if it was PSU or WVU
Tusla in Shreveport.. pass
And Pitt will never play in the Belk… ever

And the Orange/Peach/Russel weren’t in play.

So I’m all for the Middies in Naptown. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Comment by BostonsCommon 12.07.15 @ 9:54 am

Now – looking at where the hoopies and nitters landed – it’s easy to feel slighted. But I really don’t know what else to say. Win the Coastal and it’s not a problem. Lose to Carolina and Miami at home and you get what you get.

Comment by BostonsCommon 12.07.15 @ 9:58 am

Now that’s more like it Panther Faithful! Rational minds prevailing for a change. Even though it’s a nine hour drive for me from Savannah, I just might show up there in Annapolis too, after reading all of the positive posts above. Let’s go get some! H2P!

Comment by Dr. Tom 12.07.15 @ 10:18 am

BigB – great choice – we usually stay at the Inn – my wife and I opted for the Westin and Section 128 – upper level but a great view . H2P

Comment by markp 12.07.15 @ 12:26 pm

I didn’t get the bowl news until late last night because I was on the golf course (again) yesterday. Just finished lunch with my wife and broke the news to her about the Navy game.

SHE WANTS TO GO!

Imagine that. Thanks Coach Duzz…

Comment by Erie Express 12.07.15 @ 12:42 pm

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