Oh, the nostalgia. Oh, the games that have been played. Let’s reminisce about strange endings. Oh, give me a frickin’ break.
Good news. Crappy seats still remain.
I get it. The final City Game to be played at the Civic Arena. It’s a historic moment. An event. Whatever.
Pardon me for not getting all misty-eyed over this. Yes, there were some great NCAA Tournament games played there and some fantastic energy at points for those games. Yippee.
I have nothing nice to say about Pitt playing basketball at the Civic Arena. It’s my bias, feel free to disagree and dispute. It’s a product of when I was at Pitt. The late-80s as those high-talent, underachieving Paul Evans teams were there. When Fitzgerald would be packed and sweaty. A completely dominating homecourt advantage. Student section right on top of things and a force.
But, the place was too small to make as much money as they could if they moved some of the bigger conference games to the Civic Arena. So, that’s what happened. The big conference games against Syracuse, Georgetown and even St. John’s were moved to the Civic Arena. The students had to pay extra for those tickets. Transportation was shoddily provided to get them there — and most of the time we just ended up ying and taking a PAT bus there in frustration.
Then they stuck the students under one basket — not right under. No, that was reserved for people that paid the good money. The students were shunted a section back. The athletic department of the time seemed determined to remove any energy and excitement from the student section. Keep them back, make it a complete chore to get there and it showed on the court. The crowds had no energy and Pitt would go from having a definite home court advantage to a 50-50 proposition. Take away the games against Duquesne, and Pitt was only 41-37 at the Civic Arena and 14-20 against the Big East teams. Yeesh. Tell me again, why this is great?
Yes, the athletic department has much more of a clue these days. I’m sure the place will be loud tonight. I just don’t share the nostalgia and see little reason to start talking about playing at the Con in another year for some games. Pitt has one of the great home court advantages in the country. Why waste it for the cash grab of a few thousand more seats?
which states
“The Wild West sideshow, also known as the Oklahoma Sooners, came here to Fitzgerald Field House today expecting to maybe break a sweat, definitely break 100 points for the 10th time this season and run away from a mediocre Pittsburgh team for its 12th straight victory.
But, while the afternoon indeed became something of a carnival, it was the Panthers who did the celebrating, overcoming a shaky start to register a 99-91 upset victory over the third-ranked Sooners in the nationally televised nonconference game.”
How can the Pitt administration get this wrong? Oh yeah, they’re the Pitt administration.
I’m with Chas, I understand the money thing but we should be playing as much bball in Oakland as possible.
But, I think the old barn deserves one last college b-ball game. And, obviously, if you’re gonna have one last game there, it has to be Pitt v Duquesne.
I mean, what are you gonna do, have Bobby Mo play there?
I’d be mad if they said Pitt was playing multiple “home” games off campus in a given year, but just this once, for this occasion, against this opponent, I’m all for it.
But, I think the old barn deserves one last college b-ball game. And, obviously, if you’re gonna have one last game there, it has to be Pitt v Duquesne.
I mean, what are you gonna do, have Bobby Mo play there?
I’d be mad if they said Pitt was playing multiple “home” games off campus in a given year, but just this once, for this occasion, against this opponent, I’m all for it.
I guess I’m a sentimental fool.
I did go to the arena games and my memories are similar to Chas’s with the exception of the Pitt/ Georgetown brawl between Jerome Lane and some thug from Gtown. Pitt showed then and there that they were not taking any crap from anyone.
Pitt has the Pete and that’s all they need. Don’t play anywhere else.
Don’t get me wrong, once I got to go to a few games at Fitzgerald, it was a completely different story, and now the Pete just rocks. But a part of be is grateful for a few of those Arena games. (Although at the time I really didn’t realize the home court advantage we lost there.)
However, there is talk of renewing the Steel Bowl Tourney which often occurred in the holiday season. I even heard a talk show that talked about a Pitt, Duquesne, RMU and PSU round robin, and that it would make sense with Pitt’s popularity, teams from 4 difference conferences, and many students and alums from all 4 schools in the local area.
If I recall, the Pitt News pumped up the students in the run up to the game by printing some unkind words from Tubbs about the field house – we took offense and let him have it the whole game. What a comb-over!
