Melvin there were no towers at Pitt when I graduated in 1973. Further being a resident of Pittsburgh and more concerned about my academics then the bars or movie thearter in Oakland I did not live on campus nor did I spend my weekday evenings partying. Let me ask you some questions. During the Sherrill years what only 3 regular season games were lost by Pitt and where were they played? I was at each game. What was the first team Dorsett played against and how many yards did he gain? After Cavanuagh broke his arm in the first game against Notre Dame in 1977 what was the first team he played against when he returned? What street did a building on campus blew up from a gas leak in a class room in 1973, it was in a room that I had just left a class 30 minutes earlier. Finally in what semester and year did Pitt stop giving its graduates large diplomas (size given to M.D.’s) for Bachelor degrees? In the early seventies hoopies and the other term were not used. If you can answer each of these questions you have proven you went to Pitt and ardently followed the sports team.

DR TOM thank you that is what i said also 9 and 3 DAN DR TOM ALSO SAYS 9 and 3 and he is fair judge you just cant go backwards DAN 8 home games 17 returning starters better coaching 9 and 3 is fair.

wbb: The only bar I remember on Forbes near the O at that time was The Wooden Keg, but I think that was east. Is that the one you were thinking of?

@FRANKCAN What has you convinced that Dave would have won 9 games? He supposedly had his most talented team last year and only won 8. Plus, we lost some pretty good players from that team on both sides of the ball. And, as Reed and others have pointed out a few times, Dave’s dismissal went beyond wins and losses.

Dan’s point, which I agree with, is that you’re putting in two new systems on both sides of the ball that require different skill sets than the systems Dave employed and recruited for. So, we don’t know what we’re going to get until we see how the players adjust to those systems and the coaches adjust to the players.

It’s like a major change in any discipline. One I’m familiar with firsthand is when graphic arts went from handmade to computer made. Some people were able to adapt and some weren’t, but they were all graphic artists in talent and training. You can probably think of an example in your field too.

No one is giving TG a pass, especially TG himself. However, it may take a few years before we see what he can really bring to Pitt in terms of excitement and winning. 9-3 is certainly doable given the talent and the schedule, but as several have said, the rubber meets the road on the field. Until we see that and over a few games, it’s a total guess.

Melvin, let an old man try
1) Name the bars & restaurants that were side by side on Forbes Ave, in the early 1970?s (which is when you said you went to Pitt) from the corner of South Bouquet to the direction of
the Cathedral Of Learning?

Frankie Gustine’s and the other bar that I used to frequent that carried 7 ounce sizes of Rolling Rock beer.

2) What were the 3 nicknames of the 3 Dorm Towers?
Ajax
Bab-O
Comet

3) What was the name of the Movie theater that was on Pitt’s campus?
Strand???

4) What was the name of the two 24 hour per day restaurants on Pitt’s campus?
Scottie’s
White Castle?

White Castle —> White Tower?

TAMPAT I said he averaged 9 wins a year for 3 years dont know what he would have this year but he some times under acheved so i think ar least 8 and 4 all i was saying is you dont bring in a coach to do better and start bye saying it is ok to go 7 and 5 or 6 and 6 when you were averaging 9 wins a year you dont go backwards.

@DRW. You have some good Pitt trivia questions but your very first sentence in the post above invalidates your entire post. I don’t know where you were living during your Pitt days, but in 1971-72 and 1972-73 school years I lived IN the towers dorms so I’m pretty sure that they were there when you graduated in 1973. Dorsett was from my high school so I was very proud when he rushed for over a hundred yards between the hedges to a tie against Georgia in his freshman debut. BTW the old movie house on Forbes was the Kings Court. Back in the day, did the Rocky Horror movie thing when it FIRST came out. Also, any of you old timers remember the 2nd story bowling alley further down the street on Forbes?

I wouldn’t say Ritter’s was on the campus – that’s like saying Walnut street is on campus also.

Does anyone remember the Black Angus bar and restaurant?

Yea the Black Angus was on one of the cross streets between Forbes and Fifth. Way too pricey for me unless my parents showed up for a visit and I could get my frugal father to sring for the tab. Ha Ha.

TampaT Let me put it this way lets say our AD who you all love. had come out last year and said to you i am going to fire coach DAVE even though he has won abought 9 games a year and replace him with a coach who might go 7 and 5 or 6 and 6 his first year i know this will please you all .You would have said he was nuts and hung him but now that is ok that just means your nuts you dont go backwards melvin help me out here.

FRANKCAN: Then you’re totally missing the point on system changes. Look at Dave’s record the first three years. Walt didn’t leave the cupboard bare either. And, you’re giving Dave 8-4 with his players, his system, but holding TG to 9-3? That sounds fair – NOT.

Reed: You are certainly correct. Bloomfield is far from the campus, but Ritter’s was like a second home to a lot of Pitt students. Todd’s post just reminded me of that Ritter’s experience.

With you on both comments, Dr. Tom. Lived in the towers in ’71 and never could afford the Black Angus. Heck, Peter’s Pub was a step up for me. I was more of a Wohlfarth’s patron, for more reasons than the beer. (Some of you will get that.)

Wanny perhaps and/or Matt C should have been fired after losing to OU. That was inexcusable especially after returning the opening kickoff for TD and he inherited plenty of talent to beat the Bobcats by 30

TampaT, I should have said next to the O on Forbes (not west). Gustine’s, Heminway’s, the Wooden Keg are all names tthat comes to mind

CJ Barney maybe?? I’m sorry, I’ve been to too many bars in too many locations

Don’t live near Pgh anymore so haven’t been to Oakland in a couple of years so don’t know what is still open

I hard last year and the year before dave should have won 11 games dave should have won 10 games dave went 7 and 5 he should have won at least 9 games last year you all said it. but now with more talent than he has ever had the new coach can go 7 and 5 or 6 and 6 and get a pass you are all nuts .

Bring back Bimbos (Wooden Nickle nights), Chi Chi’s and Wolfarts and no one will care what the scores are.

TampaT–It’s pure fantasy to believe that Walt did not leave the cupboard bare. It was especially bare of a defensive front capable of stopping anyone and of sufficient overall OL quality to prevent having the QB fleeing for his life on nearly every play. It was also extremely weak in terms of depth. If you had to go to a 2nd teamer the drop off in talent was drastic. The last few tears of Harris’s recruiting were weak and, on top of that, there was a large number of recruits from those classes that left the program. In short, the overall talent level and depth of talent on the roster had already been steadily decreasing for several years when Wannstadt arrived.

That is not true this time around and that is why Graham should win immediately (and he knows it, as well).

FOR your info poasted juat now from USA TODAY A&M has just told BIG 12 we are leaving gone as of june next year so now the cards start to fall.

@TampaT, I was more partial to The Luna than Wohlfarth’s, shorter walk. Around the corner, remember Chief’s?? Now there was a townie bar, pony glasses of draft beer for a quarter, hard boiled eggs and huge dill pickles in gallon jars on the bar, drink for a couple hours fill your pie hole with eggs and pickles leave with a buzz on and never spent more than $5 bucks at a time there. Sounds like you knew the magic dragon down at Wohlfarth’s named Puff too.

Dr. Tom since I lived off campus I obviously got the towers question wrong, thanks for pointing out my error so gracefully. Now that you mention it I did have a friend who I graduated with from high school stay in the towers and I remember visting him in his room one time over 37 years ago and recall how odd I found the shape of the room. In my opinion this one oversight does not invalidate my argument of expose me as not being an alumnus as you imply. Also the other attacks about the resturants and bars I prefaced with the explanation of living off campus. To argue these points demonstrates how superfical and insecure each of us can be when we have strong opinions about the team we root for. At 59 I still act child like and get depressed for 2 days when Pitt or the Steelers lose. I think we need to admit to ourselves that these statements we make that sound as absolute truths are simply ours opinions based on our own preceptions,personal experiences and hopes rather than on some profound knowledge or wisdom. We are all fans wanting the same end and as such ought to start out each statement with in my opinion.

@pitt1972, your assessment is spot on IMO, sorry TampaT, Harris was doing it with smoke and mirrors his last season. Walt also burnt a few bridges regarding recruiting in western Pa. as well during the end of his tenure. That alone damaged the program for years. By comparison to what Wannestadt was left with to start, Graham has walked into a Bonanza. Bash Wanny if you want but he was a solid Pitt guy who knew how to recruit in his own backyard. Now some of the talent might not fit Graham’s systems (Myers) but he has a lot of ammunition to start with and he seems to comprehend the necessity of playing to the strenghts of the guys you got now as opposed to trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Still, no slack given. TG should be able to bring home a 9-3 season this year and be playing WVU for the BE championship this year too. Hail to Pitt!

@Frank: I would have to quetion, exactly how much talent is actually coming back, from a team that lost 5 games. Including humiliations on national tv, and at our home stadium against Miami and West Virginia. Not to mention that “thing” against UCONN.

17 starters back??? Cleveland Browns usually have about 20 or 21 starters back?????

Local high school team finished 8-2 two years ago, had 14 starters back last year, went 4-6????

Wait, are Romeus, Shearred, Baldwin and Lewis coming back, leaving their NFL teams for a 6th year of eligibility???

I enjoy the banter Frank, and I do respect your opinion.

Hey Frank, how about a hypothetical:

At the end of the year, which season do you think you would enjoy more, and be really pumped up for the future???

A. 8-4 with wins over Iowa, Notre Dame, Utah, and
spanking West Virginia by 4 touchdowns.

With the four losses, all pretty close games
that we lost to conference foes, by 4 points
here, a field goal there, maybe a costly
penalty on one, none of the losses
embarrassing at all, in every game till the
end.

OR:

9-3 with say, a lucky win against Utah, but,
looking absolutely horrible against Iowa,
losing by 3 touchdowns to Notre Dame, and
getting waxed by WVU???

Our big wins would be a drubbing of Maine
35-24, Utah, and really pounding Louisville
17-10.

So, you’d rather have the 9-3 season, just
because 9-3 is better than 8-4???

DAN I respect you also and do enjoy talking to you on line you and DR TOM AND MELVIN AND TAMPA T ARE THE BEST but it still must be 9 and 3 see DR TOMS LAST POST.

OK guys, you got most of the questions right, but they were ONLY for DRW. haha

Here are the correct answers again:

1) Name the bars & restaurants that were side by side on Forbes Ave, in the early 1970?s (which is when you said you went to Pitt) from the corner of South Bouquet to the direction of
the Cathedral Of Learning?

From Bouquet: in Order, The Original Hot Dog (beer was available for consumption in lots of flavors), CJ Barney’s The Wooden Keg, Frankie Gustine’s (this became Hemingways in the 80’s)

2) What were the 3 nicknames of the 3 Dorm Towers?

The Towers were built in 1963, their nicknames were, Tower A = Ajax, Tower B = Babo Tower C = Comet (although alot of people called Tower B, Balboa)

3) What was the name of the Movie theater that was on Pitt’s campus?

I’m shocked no-one got this. The King’s Court
(sidenote: the Rocky Horror Picture Show played there like for a decade in the 1980-1990 period)
Here’s a pic for your entertainment:
link to cinematreasures.org

4) What was the name of the two 24 hour per day restaurants on Pitt’s campus?

Key to this question was they had to be on Campus.
1) The Big O 2) The White Tower
Ritter’s Diner, while certainly an entertaining place to go late night, was off Campus on Baum Blvd. Sorry to those of you who might have been too drunk or stoned to have noticed you were ‘off’ campus.

DRW… your grade = Fail

I used to go to the King’s Court all the time when I was a kid in the 60s.

Was any blogger on here, incarcerated in the King’s Court when it was a Police Station??

(Sorry I’m a little to young for that distinguished honor)

@FrankCan

Yea, saw that story on Yahoo. A&M has notified the Big 12 that they are history come June, 30th 2012. (orangebloods.com was right again)

“provided they find another conference”

Hey if the SEC turns them down, the BIgEast should like be on the plane with the invite, yesterday.

Ok, I read his post. I don’t agree with the term bonanza!!! Maybe better than previous cupboards were left with, but, a bonanza of talent???

Compared to who, we have a bonanza of talent compared to top 20 teams??? Really????

I do have to ask Frank, were you answering my question, with your 9-3 response???

You’d rather have a 9-3 record with beating practically no one, instead of 8-4 with big wins against Iowa, Notre Dame and WVU????

Interesting, to each their own, I myself, would rather have 8-4 with big wins on meaningful national games.

My point being, could they go 9-3 or 10-2, sure, lets hope for the best. Maybe 11-1, I’m all for it!!!

But, to put a demarcation line down, as 9-3 is a success, 8-4 or 7-5 is a failure, without looking at the whole body of work, without looking at individual games, without looking over the season, cut and dry, that’s it.

Wow, personally, I believe there could be a ton of variables over the course of a 12 game season, to just pick a number out of the air, and say, “pass/fail”.

What if Shanahan and Graham get hurt and are out for the season?? Lindsey misses 5 games.
Too bad, 9-3 or bust, huh??

You’re a tough cookie Frank!!

“What if Shanahan and Graham get hurt and are out for the season?? Lindsey misses 5 games.
Too bad, 9-3 or bust, huh??”

Hey, Dan. I’m with you. What if Ray Graham fumbles deep in UConn territory?
Hell, Pitt could lose the game, lose sole possession of first place in the BE, and lose a trip to a BCS game. The coach could even lose his job.

Nah, he lost his job for an accumulation of ineptness!!

From Bouquet: in Order, The Original Hot Dog (beer was available for consumption in lots of flavors), CJ Barney’s The Wooden Keg, Frankie Gustine’s (this became Hemingways in the 80?s)

Who from the ‘60’s remembers the bar a door or two (or three) down from Frankie Gustine’s? None of the above names sound familiar. I can’t remember the name, but I remember the Rollin’ Rock ponies which I used to order several at a time.

I don’t want anybody posting here to have to have their feelings hurt or feel unloved. Lets all come together, no matter what our opinions about Pitt football are at this point, just put our arms over each other’s shoulders and sing “Sweet Caroline”……………………. Now I know that made me feel much better yelling Lets Go Pitt at the top of my lungs, how about you guys?

BTW Melvin, I did get the Kings Court questions correct, it was buried in my post to DRW about 35 posts before this one. I also mentioned the tradition this theater had with Rocky Horror, LOL

Doc, I think that the thin-skinned chaps generally leave this board after they get a response to their first post.

I’m looking for the name of another place (from someone who attended Pitt during the ‘60s). It was an after hours place located on the 2nd floor of a place near the movie theater. One needed to know someone to gain entry. After a home football game, it was the place to go.

Melvin, I got most of them correct. I actually started typing them earlier today, then saw you were after DRW. Has to be a troll, what Pitt person doesn’t know, or isn’t familiar with “hoopie”??

Oh, I missed Frankie Gustines, didn’t know that place, and missed The White Tower.

Kings Court, I graduated in 1988, was there 83-88, yes, I helped start the trend of the “5 year plan”. LOL Allthough, I did work while schooling!!

Anyhow, I can remember that from childhood, when my Dad would drive through Oakland on his way to his office, the facade of the building, I thought I was in England or something.

Yes, must have thick skin. Enjoy all of your comments, even ones stating that I am wrong, and I don’t even mind Frank yelling at me!!!

Really, great place to chat with fellow Pitt people.

Thank you Chas!!

@ pitt1972 and Dr. Tom
Well, if you guys consider having 16 returning starters – including Tyler Palko, Greg Lee, Ray Kirkley, Tim Murphy and Mike McGlynn on offense and H.B Blades, Clint Session, Tez Morris and Darrelle Revis on Defense – from a team that went 8-4 and to the Fiesta Bowl “pure fantasy” then I guess I should change my name from TampaT to Tattoo.

You guys just help my argument with statements like Walt did it with smoke and mirrors and we didn’t have sufficient beef on the lines. Walt’s system was a little bit of smoke and mirrors while Dave’s was grind it out, make no mistakes, especially with Cavanaugh as OC.

Walt’s guys just didn’t fit Dave’s system, so a team with a #23 preseason ranking that many expected to win an outright BCS bid goes 5-6 instead.

A quote from our friend and host Chas after that season, “Maybe I’m just feeling argumentative, but Pitt didn’t need “rebuilding.” The program may need reworking and some definite talent upgrades, but rebuilding is not what it is undergoing. That is a disservice to what Walt Harris did accomplish at Pitt from 1997 through 2004, and the players.”

Thanks for helping to prove the point that Dan and I have been trying to make about the expectations some of you are putting on Graham.

Anyhow, I can remember that from childhood, when my Dad would drive through Oakland on his way to his office, the facade of the building, I thought I was in England or something. \
Comment by Dan 08.31.11 @ 8:33 pm

Too funny Dano…..yes if you look at that link I posted of the Kings Court Movie Theatre, it’s all England.

I’m still looking for a blogger here….who might have been incarcerated there overnite for like Drunk in Public or something when the King’s Court was a Police Station. Basically we’re looking for an alum who is in his/her? 60’s.

Come on….fess up…. This is really an honor and we want to recognize this grand accomplishment. You will be forever a legend on Pittblather.

@ DocTom…..didn’t see your answer. no problemo
Senior Doctor. I’m sure there are more then a few here who had to have seen the classic movie….
“Animal House” at the Kings Court in the late 70’s.

I remember me & one of frat brothers being in Wendy’s on Fifth Ave. and someone gave us Free Tickets to see Gary Newman (Numan) who at the time was really good at the Stanley Theatre.
link to en.wikipedia.org

Hey I love all you guys…..yes we have our differences,….BUT WE ALL ALL PITT PANTHERS !

NEVER FORGET THAT !!!!!

HAIL TO PITT ! WE ARE THE BEST !

Dr. Tom: My choice of bars depended on which end of campus I lived on. Frosh & Soph years I lived closer to Wohlfarth’s, Peter’s and Frankie’s. Junior year, I could fall out my front door to Luna and Chief’s – or fall in my front door after going to the Luna. Senior year was back west nearer the others.

BigGuy: Sorry, a little too young to help you with the ’60s. The only after-hours place I remember was New Era up near Luna and Chief’s. Hot jazz club where a lot of jazz legends hung out when in town. If the guy at the door didn’t recognize you, you didn’t get in. He was really a nice guy, but also someone you didn’t want to mess with.

BTW,,,,I’d like to thank Chas for creating this forum for all of us to keep in touch, discuss Pitt sports and reminisce about the past.

Thanks Chas, you are the best !

@Tampa T

I know if you were on Centre Ave., and went to the Luna you have to had known Wes.

And I bet you went to Mitchell’s and Haddon Hall !

The Good Times !

@BigGuy,

I remember the after hours club, it was across the street from the Howard Johnson’s or maybe Holiday Inn on Forbes, it was on the 2nd floor. The name escapes me at the moment, but I was there, I remember it and you are on the money.

MelvinBennett – regarding Animal House. Few people know that a Pittsburgher had a big role in that movie – Jamie Widdoes who played the president of the Deltas.

@ melvinbennett

I vaguely remember a character that hung around that area. I was only on that end of campus for 1 of my 4 years and we only went back that way after hours after graduating to go to New Era.

I’m awful with remembering people from that time. Honestly. I ran into my hometown girlfriend of 5 years when up there a while ago, and I didn’t even recognize her. She’s going, “you don’t remember me?” My wife was with me and loved it.

Good times for sure. Too good sometimes. I think I was at Pitt a few years before you, so did Haddon Hall still have $1 pitchers and 10 cent hot dogs on Tuesdays? That was like a feast day for us, but we sure paid for it the next day.

IMO some of your expectations are ridiculous…football is a game and many things can happen…turnovers, injuries, referees…let the season play out…lets improve our recruiting classes, learn the systems, and then bring out the measuring sticks. should coach graham just come out and say, “our goal is to finish .500″…..it seems good enough for pirate fans….because the steelers went to the superbowl, is tomlin a failure if we dont win it this year, with the same and improved talent and health. this is why you play the games.