Pitt fires AD Heather Lyke
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I'm more inclined to think the opposite. Intercollegiate athletics began when professional team sports weren't that popular and weren't that attractive as career options. In terms of popularity, baseball was the team sports exception until the late 50's. The impact on college baseball was limited because MLB organizations strongly pushed players into the minor league systems. College baseball was not well regarded as a MLB preparation route until well into the 70s and 80s. College sports existed because it was seen as good for the community, a good way to motivate alumni donors, and not inconsistent with the school's educational purpose. A lot changed in the last 60 years that has created an environment where major sports have nothing to do with the school, apart from the brand and the focus is entirely on revenue. Frankly, I think it's sad that the only thing we value about a college sports team is its ability to make money and disregard the fact that many of the non-revenue sports function in a way more consistent with the school mission than the "important" sports. No, I have no illusions about the future of college sports; most of them are as good as dead as are many P4 football programs as we know them. I'm just not sure that the core belief that a sport or program is only good if it makes money is the best view for educational institutions.
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Agreed. It would be a similar argument about cutting music or theater extracurriculars because they don't "make money". It's perfectly okay to have elements at a university that don't generate revenue themselves but contribute to the overall character of the school.
Not an insult to you or anyone who thinks about this the way you do but I simply don't care about what was at one time intermural sports and should still be today.
Pitt announces advisory selection committee(link)
Head basketball coach Jeff Capel, among others, was appointed to participate in the process of selecting a new AD.
A certain football coach was conspicuous in his absence from the appointed committee.
Do they not value the Duzzi's input in this process?
Head basketball coach Jeff Capel, among others, was appointed to participate in the process of selecting a new AD.
A certain football coach was conspicuous in his absence from the appointed committee.
Do they not value the Duzzi's input in this process?
Maybe it’s in season for him and he has limited time?
I had given that thought consideration as I was posting.
The intimate relationship between the AD, the football program/Narduzzi and NIL.
I would think that you would want those 3 to be in sync to devise and implement a plan moving forward.
I wonder what the frequency and duration are of these committee meetings.
I am sure they will meet him and get some input. Maybe ask him who to reach out to, Perhaps after a final list of 5-8 people. Interview the final three?
I have no idea but he has to be somewhat involved. Football is the top revenue sport.
It would be awsome if they hired one Anne Saunders "Sandy" Barbour - the idiots heads would explode on the Liar.
IT SEEMS INTEREST IN PITT FOOTBALL IS WANING ON A NATIONAL SCALE TOWARD IRRELEVANCY:
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers made a late comeback to take down rival West Virginia at home last weekend, 38-34, in front of a sold out crowd at Acrisure Stadium and also on national television.
The game, which aired at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2, which landed 1.15 million viewers, according to sportsmediawatch.com. This ranked No. 14 across all games and No. 5 at the time slot.
It was also No. 2 for any ACC team, behind Florida State losing to Memphis, 20-12, to drop to 0-3 on the season, which aired on ESPN at noon. It is also the highest watched Pitt game of the 2024 season, with 82 thousand tuning into the noon kickoff vs. Kent State at Acrisure Stadium on ESPNU, a 55-24 blowout, and 304 thousand viewers for the 28-27 comeback win over Cincinnati on the road on ESPN2 for a noon kickoff.
This is the lowest viewership for a Backyard Brawl since it restarted in 2022. It had 3.15 million viewers on ESPN in the 2022 season opener on a Thursday, capped off with the M.J. Devonshire pick-six, while the 2023 matchup at 7:30 p.m. on ABC saw 2.41 million viewers, as Pitt quarterback Phil Jurkovec threw three interceptions and completed just 8-of-20 passes in the 17-6 defeat.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/pitt-vs-west-virginia-tv-ratings-released/ar-AA1qQ04p?
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers made a late comeback to take down rival West Virginia at home last weekend, 38-34, in front of a sold out crowd at Acrisure Stadium and also on national television.
The game, which aired at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2, which landed 1.15 million viewers, according to sportsmediawatch.com. This ranked No. 14 across all games and No. 5 at the time slot.
It was also No. 2 for any ACC team, behind Florida State losing to Memphis, 20-12, to drop to 0-3 on the season, which aired on ESPN at noon. It is also the highest watched Pitt game of the 2024 season, with 82 thousand tuning into the noon kickoff vs. Kent State at Acrisure Stadium on ESPNU, a 55-24 blowout, and 304 thousand viewers for the 28-27 comeback win over Cincinnati on the road on ESPN2 for a noon kickoff.
This is the lowest viewership for a Backyard Brawl since it restarted in 2022. It had 3.15 million viewers on ESPN in the 2022 season opener on a Thursday, capped off with the M.J. Devonshire pick-six, while the 2023 matchup at 7:30 p.m. on ABC saw 2.41 million viewers, as Pitt quarterback Phil Jurkovec threw three interceptions and completed just 8-of-20 passes in the 17-6 defeat.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/pitt-vs-west-virginia-tv-ratings-released/ar-AA1qQ04p?
The symphony was playing at 7 that night so there were thousands who had to miss the football game to get ready for it. Plus Kennywood had a special on hot dogs and Carnegie Mellon girls soccer had a game so there goes another couple thousand. No way Pitt can compete with that
I was shocked to see a lot of open seats. While I've always been a huge PSU fan, I always liked Pitt as my Uncle took me to a few games as a kid. They've had some great teams and they've had some of the all-time best NFL players come through there. However, it is clear that their program has really suffered in the last ten years. Did it start when they had to share a stadium that wasn't close to their campus? After they fired Wannstedt, they went through 8 coaches in four years (Wanstedt, Haywood, Bennett, Graham, Paterson, Chryst, Rudolf, Narduzzi...to be fair, four of those were "interim" but why couldn't they keep a coach). Maybe it is the ACC.
They've got quite a mess on their hands.
I am a huge PSU fan.....but grew up in Pittsburgh and went to a number of Pitt games in my youth.
If you look at an all 22 team. The team that Pitt could put together would be a high seed in a fictional tournament. Some highlights:
Marino QB
Dorsett and Martin RB
Fitzgerald WR 1
Mark May, Russ Grimm, Fralic - OLine
Ditka - TE
Ricky Jackson, Hugh Green, Aaron Darnold, Bill Maas DL
DBs - Revis,
Others that I am missing...... and there are some gaps, but the names listed are pretty high end guys.......
If you look at an all 22 team. The team that Pitt could put together would be a high seed in a fictional tournament. Some highlights:
Marino QB
Dorsett and Martin RB
Fitzgerald WR 1
Mark May, Russ Grimm, Fralic - OLine
Ditka - TE
Ricky Jackson, Hugh Green, Aaron Darnold, Bill Maas DL
DBs - Revis,
Others that I am missing...... and there are some gaps, but the names listed are pretty high end guys.......
Agreed. And when I compare the PSU vs Pitt programs, i feel like PSU has been far more successful and right now it isn't even close. Yet, Pitt has more NFL greats than PSU. Marino, Dorsett, Fitz, Revis and Donald are probably better than anyone we've had at those positions. I'd stack out linebackers against theirs anytime. DL and OL are probably pushes. We've also had better TEs.
All I can say is the 1977 Penn State vs Pitt game was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. I was only 11 and we drove across the state to go to this game in the freezing cold. The game is legendary in my opinion, rivalry game with both teams highly ranked, snowy, cold weather, classic old school feel to it, big play on special teams is the key play and then it comes down to the final play. My feet have never been more cold. I loved that game. It was the first away game I attended that we won. I was at the 1972 Penn State vs Tennessee game in Knoxville but have no memories of that game except my Dad complaining about Hufnagel. The other away game was the 1975 Ohio State game in Columbus. Archie Griffin broke loose for a big run. Before that game I got to see JoePa up close as he came off the team bus. What a thrill!
Back to the '77 Pitt game. The Cefalo to Guman reverse punt return for a TD was about as thrilling a play as I can remember as a kid growing up watching Penn State. One of my all time favorite Penn State plays still to this day. Loved the fact that Joe did not wear a jacket to that game. Just in his brown suit! The arch enemy Jackie Sherrill on the other side. Then the infamous score by Pitt at the end and all their fans rush the field yet the game is not over and they still trail by 2 points! How crazy is that?! Then they attempt the 2 point conversion in the snow with all their fans (I think Pitt students) surrounding the end zone and basically on the field of play. Joe D'Ange I believe made the stop on Elliot Walker. I still pull that game up on YouTube for a walk down memory lane.
Back to the '77 Pitt game. The Cefalo to Guman reverse punt return for a TD was about as thrilling a play as I can remember as a kid growing up watching Penn State. One of my all time favorite Penn State plays still to this day. Loved the fact that Joe did not wear a jacket to that game. Just in his brown suit! The arch enemy Jackie Sherrill on the other side. Then the infamous score by Pitt at the end and all their fans rush the field yet the game is not over and they still trail by 2 points! How crazy is that?! Then they attempt the 2 point conversion in the snow with all their fans (I think Pitt students) surrounding the end zone and basically on the field of play. Joe D'Ange I believe made the stop on Elliot Walker. I still pull that game up on YouTube for a walk down memory lane.
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I also was at the 1977 game as a 10 year old. I sat in the corner of the endzone where Pitt tried the two point conversion at the end of the game.
Shady McCoy, Swervin Ervin Curvin. Fitzgerald at receiver. Ironhead Heyward.
They have had some outstanding players. Just not enough at one time.
Also, they've had some bad cultures when they did have a good collection of players.
I think we were in the Penn State section. Pretty good seats around the 30. The end zone of the 2 pt conversion attempt was to our right and it was the end zone closest to us. I remember that was the same end zone that I think Ron Hostetler came up with a huge pick for us.
Nearly 47 years ago. I was sitting in the end zone away from the 2 point conversion try. Couldn't see the play very well (distance, snow, a little tipsy - maybe a lot tipsy) but I remember as the play was concluding, PSU defenders running back toward the bench to celebrate.
The older I get, the more convinced I become that individual NFL success often (not always) depends on who selects you in the draft.
What if the Cowboys pick Blair Thomas and Emmett Smith goes to the Jets? What if Franco goes to the Saints? Some are destined for greatness regardless. Some are great because of the team they play for.
