Up to this point, it has been maneuvering. It has been rumors, positioning, intent and supposition. Today, the bleep gets real (probably).
School officials spent Tuesday preparing for a news conference at Kyle Field to celebrate the move, pending a favorable vote from SEC presidents to extend an invitation. The SEC presidents met Tuesday night and discussed an invitation to A&M, and sources said one final hurdle must be cleared before the deal is complete.
The SEC made no formal announcement. A&M’s announcement could be delayed until Thursday.
And that vote appears to have gone through, though, Baylor is doing whatever it can to stop everything.To the point where this may actually be delayed longer than merely a day.
When it happens, though, it will set in motion three different tracks in the great expansiopocolypse of 2011, Hmmm. This will definitely bleed into 2012. Think this is what the Mayans really meant about the end of an age? Starts to make some sense now.
Those fear of lawsuits from the Big 12 and member schools against the SEC appeared to be a thing of the past. Well, except for one school — Baylor.
Baylor. The school that shamelessly and forcefully made sure they were included in the Big 12 formation over other SWC leftovers of Rice, Houston, TCU and SMU. Well Ann Richards is no longer governor. Heck, she isn’t even hawking Doritos. Baylor’s president, Ken Starr is now more than a 15 years removed from his peak point of looking for semen stained dresses. This leaves them with little choice but to threaten litigation and pursue a laughable, self-serving, PR campaign to save Texas football.
Texans must stand up and call the leadership of the University of Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech to clear-headed thinking about the state’s future. Texas’ flagship institutions of higher learning are the guardians of the state’s future — their loyalties must first be to Texas and to her citizens. Ask these leaders to take a stand for Texas and to stop this madness that will lead to the dissolution of the Big 12 and the end of an era for Texas.
No really. This isn’t some parody or fake. This is what Baylor is reduced to doing. I’m sure the alumni of Rice, TCU, SMU and Houston will sign right on with this.
The expected meddling from the Texas legislature and politicians has yet to emerge.
One league source said Sunday that the anticipated interest from lawmakers probably “has more to do with Texas” than A&M because a Longhorns move to the Pac-12 — if finalized — could kill the Big 12. A&M announced plans Wednesday to withdraw from the Big 12, pending an invitation to the SEC.
Dewhurst’s office said he is following the situation.
“Lt. Gov. Dewhurst’s primary focus is to ensure the best possible outcome for all Texas universities,” said Dewhurst spokesperson Mike Walz in an e-mail response to questions from the Star-Telegram.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s office said only, “The governor believes these decisions are up to each school,” according to spokesperson Lucy Nashed in an e-mail.
It probably doesn’t hurt that the Texas Governor, Rick Perry, is a Texas A&M alum. That will mute the effort, because it will be very hard for politicians to get active after letting A&M do what they wanted. David Dewhurst’s politicking might be more about attention and vote getting since he is also running for the US Senate in 2012.
The big problem with Baylor’s campaign. They are focused on the wrong state. Oklahoma is driving the next spike into the Big 12.
Oklahoma seems determined to head west and Oklahoma State will go as well. Unlike last year when Oklahoma seemed to hitch their wagon and fortunes to the Longhorns, the Sooners have spent the last year seeing the instability only get worse in the Big 12. The deals and imbalanced revenue splits — which benefited Oklahoma — did little to improve the conference. Distrust, envy, frustration and fear of what will happen in the future only made the situation worse (kind of like an accelerated version of what we see in the Big East).
While Oklahoma says that they have made no determination of what they really want to do, all indications are that they have decided to go Pac-12 or bust. With or without Texas.
The question is, what does Texas want? Well, we know they wanted to keep the Big 12 together and not even have Texas A&M runaway. They wanted to keep their Longhorn Network and unbalanced revenue coupled with almost complete control over everything the conference says or does. That seems less likely — unless they want to preside over a Big East/Mountain West-like conference with members looking for the first chance to bolt. To say nothing of the conference revenue money being significantly reduced with the loss of not simply 3 programs, but three of the top-4 (or 5) programs in the conference.
There is no question that the Pac-12 will take Texas (afterall, they are willing to take Texas Tech with them). And while the conference seems less enamored with just taking Oklahoma and OK State, but…
And yes, in all likelihood the Pac-12 would take Oklahoma and Oklahoma State even if Texas were off the table, multiple sources said.
“Right now, it’s wait-and-see mode,” added one. “The happiest result for the Pac-12 is if the status quo is maintained.”
Academics would be a point of contention if the status quo unravels, however.
Sources said that at least five schools (Stanford, Cal, USC, UCLA and Washington) have serious questions about admitting the Oklahoma schools, which are not members of the Association of American Universities.
But when I asked a source close to Stanford president John Hennessy, one of the league’s most influential CEOs, if the AAU issue would be a deal-breaker, the answer was: “Probably not.”
Said another source: “If Larry (Scott) thinks adding (Oklahoma and OSU) is the right thing, the CEOs will ultimately fall in line.”
The lack of AAU membership didn’t stop the Pac from taking Colorado and Utah. Not to mention Oregon St., Arizona St. and Washington St. aren’t in the AAU.
Texas Tech is merely a pawn in this. It’s whether Texas (and ESPN) can surrender the Longhorn Network.
For Texas to join the Oklahoma schools in an expanded Pac-12, there would have to be some sort of concessions on the Longhorns’ part. Some LHN dollars spread around, for example. The Longhorns would also have to relinquish some of their current board room power.
I can’t see Texas doing all that, frankly. For one thing, they’re the ones who signed a $300 million contract with ESPN. Why share more than a pittance with reported would-be regional TV partner Texas Tech?
Nor can I envision the Longhorns surrendering much of the weighty leverage they currently enjoy in the Big 12. Conference commissioner Dan Beebe’s backside is well-painted with UT footprints.
In an expanded Pac-12, Texas would lose all leverage except maybe over Texas Tech. Think the California schools wouldn’t delight in voting down DeLoss Dodds’ next big money-making idea?
Yet, with Oklahoma’s concerns and plans now revealed, what other options does Texas have?
Not a lot. That’s the point. Independence isn’t a legitimate option. Unlike the ND model — and I know I’ve said this before — the other Texas sports don’t have a good place to go. In the Big East, ND gets major exposure for basketball. Texas would see its basketball programs and it’s baseball program relegated to backwater exposure on the Mountain West.
No one is buying the BS rumors of Texas looking at going to the ACC instead to keep the Longhorn Network.
ACC commissioner John Swofford has quashed reports stating Texas, Syracuse, UConn and Rutgers were heading to the Atlantic Coastal Conference.
“I need to read more to see what we’re doing,” Swofford said to CBSSports.com. “That’s news to me.”
The website Orangebloods.com published a report saying the ACC was interested in adding those four schools to form a 16-team league and fend off a potential raid by the SEC, which is rumored to have interest in Virginia Tech.
“I think we see a lot of things that are written, blogged and speculated about right now,” Swofford said to CBSSports.com. “We’re not a point at doing anything from a conference standpoint other than a lot of discussion, analysis and seeing what the landscape may hold moving forward. That’s way beyond any type of discussion we’ve had.”
Still the rumors persist that Texas might try to keep the Big 12 together on its own.
The question is, will there be a Big 12 to hold together. Baylor’s threatened litigation could backfire if Texas A&M gets its own political players in the fight. Baylor may be desperate, but there is only so far they can go.
Add in the fact that Oklahoma has made it no great secret that they have been the ones to approach the Pac-12 this time. So there’s difficulty in pursuing a lawsuit on that flank.\
Much like that, the Big East waits to pick-up some pieces. And those pieces are looking out for themselves at this point.
The idea gained a measure of momentum when Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little released a statement Tuesday, saying, “It’s obviously disappointing that it has come to this point. Keeping the Big 12 strong and competitive remains our top preference. But no matter what happens, we’re going to continue to work in the best interests of the University of Kansas.
“That’s our number one priority, and it’s what we’ve been focused on throughout the process, as we’ve looked at all our options when it comes to conference realignment.”
Add Kansas, in other words, to the growing line of mammals that appear to be preparing to scurry off the Big 12’s sinking ship.
Adding the three Big 12 schools, linked by adjoining states, would expand the Big East’s television footprint into the heartland of the country.
It would also allow Big East commissioner John Marinatto to properly approach the league’s television partners about reopening negotiations on the conference’s TV contracts, some of which are to expire in November 2012.
With a 12 and 20 team conference? And we think the basketball schedule can be a mess now?
And just to make everyone crazier, how about the idea of making full conferences of twenty teams.
There’s been more and more talk of 20-school conferences in recent weeks. Ex-Texas A&M and Alabama coach Gene Stallings said that he expects 20-team leagues to become reality. Former WAC commisioner Karl Benson — whose league once went to 16 schools — has said he thinks 20-team leagues might be the best way to go. If that’s the case, how long will it be before people begin to realize that we’ve all done a lot of handwringing in order to wind up right back where we started?
Here’s what we mean by that: If four 20-school conferences are formed, each would likely be divided into 10-team divisions. The schools would probably face one another in round-robin fashion (nine-game conference schedules) and the winners of each division would face off in a league championship game.
Go back 25 years, before the Big Ten and SEC expanded, and the world consisted mostly of nine- and 10-team leagues. In a 20-team conference world, the 10-team divisions would likely come pretty close geographically to those old 10-team conferences. The only difference? All the money would be going into four leagues’ bank accounts rather than eight.
The obvious flaw would be finding 80 football teams for four giant conferences.
There is so much more that is and is not happening. WVU to the SEC seems to be a hot rumor. But, then last week it was Pitt to the Big 12, so I think we can just wait and see.
Drop DePaul, Seton Hall cut ties with the central office in Providence, add Nova as a football school and you have quite a powerful conference
Football
1. Cincy
2. UCONN
3. UL
4. Pitt
5. Rutgers
6. USF
7. Cuse
8. Nova
9. WVU
10. TCU
11. Maryland
12. UNC
13. Duke
14. Wild Card
Plus Marquette, ND, Johnny’s and Georgetown for BBALL.
I am salivating.
Kansas Chancellor quote, “Keeping the Big 12 strong and competitive remains our top preference. But no matter what happens, we’re going to continue to work in the best interests of the University of Kansas” …. I believe that pretty well sums it up for every team right now, not only B12 teams, but all teams.
It nneds to be noted that the BE is currently negoitating TV contracts with ESPN and possibly NBC. If they are able to include the St louis and Kansas City TV markets in their model, it could well be more money for Missouri and the 2 Kansas teams to join the BE .. not to metion the stability factor.
But of course, all of these types of scenarios are based on nothing unforseen occurring … who knows what preemptive strikes that the ACC, SEC, B10 or PAC12 may take in te next few months.
WE, as Pitt fans, may be rejoicing by November or we could be licking our wounds … it looks like it’s going to be crazy.
full ride at MIT. They never even thought about any of the SEC schools except for misplaced Vandy.
As I have said many times before, the Big East commissioner will go down with the Big East ship before turning his back on the BB schools that crowned him. The football schools will just have to split from what is called the Big East.
New Big 10 teams:
#13 Missouri
#14 Maryland
#15 Rutgers
#16 Vandy
Vandy would be replaced with Va Tech. WVU would be the substitute for the loss of Missouri and would head to the SEC.
This scenario would force the remaining Big East and ACC football teams to merge.
Pitt cannot trust Providence. In Providence we do NOT trust.
Nobody will care to watch Northeastern teams play Kansas in football. It adds little tv market value either. I hope those schools land somewhere, but somewhere remotely relevant, not the Northeast.
If western fringe BE schools like UL want to go, fine.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Texas go to the SEC if they can keep TLN. Looks like they’re might be some friction between Texas & Okla, with the remarks OU’s Stoops has been making. They might have done some back dealing to let A&M lead the way this year, since they were at the forefront as far as leaving last year.
Let Uconn, Syracuse & Rutgers go to the ACC, that’s their speed for football anyway. More importantly with those 3 gone, much better chance Pitt gets into the Big 10. And that is really the better choice. Although I do find it impossible to believe Texas would entertain thoughts of joining the ACC. That’s probably some pro-ACC blogger trying to get the ACC mentioned as a player. When they aren’t. Sure they grabbed 3 from the BE, 10 years ago, but in reality they are the low man on the totem pole in a 4 mega conference setup.
Comment by DAN 09.07.11 @ 1:18 pm
It certainly is Dano.
That is not a very exciting 4 additions to the Big 10. Vandy really!
No the Big 10 needs more pizazz than that. The only one I see of that group is Mizzou, but they were jilted before by Delaney after the Tigers courted the Big 10 for months.
I can’t see Maryland with those uniforms being allowed anywhere remotely close to the Big 10. lol
They love their traditions in that conf. which is a good thing.
Agree JoeP, adding KU & K-State for football isn’t like playing in a league with Texas, OU, OSU, TT. You can put up with the former two for the games with the latter four.
Those two have far better basketball programs, and we have enough good basketball teams in the BigEast now. The schedule as remarked by many last year (and many journalists) is brutal in the BigEast for hoops now.
Someone else mentioned adding UNC & Duke & Maryland. Same deal, we have enough good to great basketball programs now. And ..are we actually talking about Nova for football again, I was hoping that ludicrous idea was long forgotten.
The Big 12 conf’s letter of letting TAMU go without a lawsuit, expires tomorrow at 8pm or thereabouts.
Stay Tuned.
The Big 10 is silent because there is nothing for them to say right now. What would they say?
That’s ok, I’ve read on various blogs including the Big 10 guru, Frank the Tank, that Pitt while not a #13 or #14 addition to the Big 10, could very well be #15 or #16. That might not happen for a few years, but I’ve learned never to say never.
And in this crazy world ANYTHING is possible.
Congrats btw you’re typing is getting much better.
I’ll keep harping on this … after the B10 orignally announced in December 2009 that they were considering expansion, they barely made anything else public until they made the formal announcement of Nebrasksa joing the B10 for the 2011 FB season.
It was everyone else in the universe speculating on countless number of expansion scenarios. The Big 10 didn’t even bother to dispel that gigantic rumor that they were holding a press conference in February, 2010 to announce that Pitt would be joinging the conference.
This is the way they do business … and I believe a very prudent way. Let everyone else go nuts while they keep all future plans under wraps.
The Big 10 silence doesn’t mean a thing … they could be in the process of inviting Missouri, Rutgers, Maryland, Pitt and / or WVU … or they could be completely satisfied with the large payout each of their 12 teams are currently pocketing.
Advise to all — just don’t go crazy trying to figure out what will happen based on speculation or (in)action taken by a conference.
1. Pitt
2. Penn State
3. BC
4. UConn
5. Syracuse
6. Rutgers
7. WVU
8. Louisville
9. Maryland
10. South Florida
11. Miami
12. Va Tech
13. Cincy
14. Temple
15. C Fla
16. Navy
I can dream can’t I?
Get to play Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, can you imagine the excitement, those teams coming to College Station or the different road trips to see them!
Ok, two duds in Kentucy and Vandy, but, I would have to believe roadtrips to Lexington and Nashville would be better than Waco or Lubbock.
Getting butts whooped. Doubt it, they look awesome this year, recruiting is going to go through the roof, and as good as the SEC is, Arkansas and South Carolina just won their divisions and are some peoples favorites again. If those two can do it, A&M will fit right in.
So, yes, little brother syndrome, but, in this case, A&M and their fans have to be on cloud nine.
Sure, Texas will be ok, if they get into the Pac 12 or Big 10. Stay in the Big 12, what and add Rice and Houston, yuk, no matter how many millions, that’s a dud.
Won’t go independent, need a conference for their olympic sports.
@JoeP The Big 10 may not need to speak now, but, believe me, they are watching every little thing that goes on. They may have to act shortyl also, if a few of teams they thought they might get someday if they expanded, are on the verge of making a decision to join another conference.
i.e. If Missouri gets an invite to SEC, they will no longer be able to be poached in a few years.
Same thing if some of the fall out is an eventual ACC-Big East merger or some semblance of that makes it the other super conference. Won’t be able to poach that conference, like they could now.
Definitely some talk amongst themselves right now on how this may play out.
That would be the ultimate irony if somehow we were already a member of the Big 10 by then. So what then…we’d play them twice in one season. lol
So, Pedey is OK with the goddesses but he has a hang up on the Southern Comfort?
Obviously, he wasn’t at Pitt in the ’70s. He’d know that those little pints are part of Pitt’s winning tradition – and the many young men and women who needed to be carried down Cardiac Hill after the games.
Hail to PITT! Hail to Winning!
If the Texas AD and the Notre Dame AD are as buddy-buddy as some say, the Big 12 writers and bloggers may be reading the tea leaves the wrong way. It may be that Texas is trying to learn how to go indy from ND rather than trying to lure ND into the Big 12.
How abought a prediction is any one going any were? And if they are which team is going were. And when and how many. Give it your best shot.
Q: Do you think Sunseri puts too much air under his deep ball? It looks like he is floating it a bit which can lead to a lack of precision.
Ben Shockey, Pittsburgh
ZEISE: I think he did definitely in the first half. But from what I saw during camp he really has worked on this aspect of his game and he can make those throws. He did much better this summer than anything we saw last year during the season so I would wait for a few more games before you judge his deep ball. He will be able to make those throws when he needs to.
Zeise has told his story and he’s sticking to it?
Just like last year. Go figure.
The umbilicle cord must be separated from Providence in order to be able to structure a league that make common sense.
What concerns me is how often when expansion is mentioned Pitt is left out….we were never considered by the ACC when BC, Va Tech and Miami flew the coop destroying our football conference.
The Big 10 has as far as I know very little interest in Pitt….in fact, we would be well behind Rutgers, Uconn and Missouri.
Pitt is NEVER going to the SEC or the Big XII (whatever # you want to call it).
Our discussions don’t make sense when you remmeber that we have Seton Hall, Marquette, DePaul, etc….the Big East is a lopsided mess!
Pitt has never been that sexy of a pick for any of the mega conferences.
The problems stem from the following perceptions lack of fervent fan base, a fertile recruiting ground, a recent strong football history. I know we have this for basketball, but football is king.
I would place the following team in higher interest of the various conferences ACC/SEC/Big 10
WVU
Louisville
Syracuse
Rutgers (TV market reasons likely)
when you get down to it the other folks out there
Missouri
Kansas
Kansas State (package deal with Kansas likely)
Notre Dame
BYU
UConn (don’t discount ESPN influence on this one)
That is 10 teams out there and I am not sure I am missing someone else.
My question is this everyone says Pitt will be fine, but I contest that there is a chance of being frozen out.
I doubt Pitt has any power but I hope that the powers that be in the Pitt administration are on the phones and trying to get something in place up front.
I just don’t want Pitt to be on the outside looking in at this point.
DaveD
PSU owns Pa and yes, the Pittsburgh TV market, the Big 10 does not need or really want us.
WE COULD BE LEFT OUT WITH CINCY IN NO MAN’S LAND.
Yes, very negative thoughts but do your homework on TV markets and geographic plaement and we are not in a great position…..THE ACC NEVER CAME CALLING FOR PITT. The Big 10 …why would it pick us over a Rutgers or a UCONN…why?
The Bard had it right “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”
Charlie may be on to something with his brand of “Southern comfort” because Miami had some great recruiting classes during the years that Shapiro was using other people’s money to purchase playmates for players at the U. And, we all know that “sex sells”.
Plus, she’d be loyal, she wouldn’t spring a surprise on you, nor would you catch anything bad. Dude, sign me up for that.
I think Pitt looks very attractive as the 15th or 16th team in the Big 10 or the 13th or 14th team in the ACC. Both Pitt and Kansas will find a good man.
And, who’s to say that Pitt can’t make a home in a new Big East without the pity of other conferences. If the Big East holds together, Pitt could emerge as the leader and dominant player while the Big 12 and ACC crumble and come begging.
Pitt will be fine. Have faith. Say a prayer if you think it would help. I’ve gone through my rosary twice already in the past 7 days.
Definitely could happen, said it before, I’ll say it again. If it gets to the 4, 16 team superconferences, it’s nothing but a numbers game.
Doesn’t matter if Nordy or Steve have buddies at some other school, or friends of a conference commissioner. Eventually, there are only so many slots. If conference ABCDE gets to 16 teams, doesn’t matter who they know, or, “you can’t leave Pitt out”. There won’t be any room!!!
I hope they are the phones right now too, and loosely hanging onto the Big East ship.
They have got to look out for, Pitt first, then look out for Pitt, and finally, look out for Pitt.
I’m cautiously optimistic at the outcome, but, there are going to be some universities left out. Probably 5 or 6 that should really be in their, but, numbers will say no.
We could be sitting here stunned in a few months, or a year.
No, the sky is not falling, but I certainly hope someone is on top of this.
You think, the hot rumor, WVU gets asked to the SEC, they’re gonna say, “well, we have history with Pitt, Syracuse and UCONN???” No way, see ya later, and I wouldn’t blame them in the least.
You can have a head nod, “lets try and ride this out together and save the Big East if possible”.
That’s all well and good, but if someone gives you an “in”, you have got to go.
The Pac-whatever will not add Pitt; The SEC will not add Pitt(they might add WVU); the ACC would rather have UConn, Syracuse,Rutgers and WVU than Pitt.
Will we be out in the cold with Iowa State, USF, Baylor and Cincy in a re-formed Conference USA?
My Doomsday scenario:
Pac-whatever adds OU, OSU, Texas and Texas Tech.
The SEC grabs A&M and WVU and stands pat.
The Big10 grabs Missouri, Kansas, Rutgers and Notre Dame.
The ACC snaps up Syracuse and UConn.
Where does Pitt end up? Trying desparately for the ACC to go to 16, with either Cincy or Louisville (assuming the SEC doesn’t grap them)?. Ugh.
Pitt will never be left out. We have a national football brand and a national basketball brand.
Get real. Pitt is the leading Academic University in the BigEast and the leading basketball/football university in the BigEast with the highest TV ratings in the BigEast.
Again get real. Trolls die.
What a dose of media reality of how they make us and afterthought.
It made me ill. God how I hate the media!
I think there are folks here who can attest I am not a troll and that I have been here for many years.
I don’t post as much in the offseason but I do post.
And yes I do worry about Pitt getting left out in the cold regardless of what you think.
I saw what happened when the Big East got poached. ACC never even thought of us.
Big 10 nope not interested.
So you can call those of us who are concerned trolls but you are wrong.
Given how the whole coaching fiasco went down, you really convinced this adminstration will not f it up
I wish I had your confidence.
Pitt is not as big of a national football brand as you think.
I will point out again after the Maryland/Miami game that ESPN had a bit on how the new coaches fared in their debut over the weekend.
Graham and Pitt were missing. But not Holgerson.
I really hope you are right but I think you assume way too much.
DaveD
I’m not assuming anything. Those are the facts.
Why are you trying to get people worried here?
That’s horseshit! Dave D
Supposedly the order detailed the potential loss of revenue stream previously enjoyed by said goddess if the southern confort clause proposed by Sheen was enacted.
Stevie P. announced that talks with Sheen have broken off becuase of potential suits in the future. He stated that he was “disappointed with the current situation because according to him,” I consulted with all of Mr. Sheen’s whores prior to initiating discussions with him and they all agreed that they would let the SOB go, and good ridance”!
With these new developments, Mr. Sheen’s future is left very undecided. When interviewed he stated,”crap,I should have just kept my f*cking mouth shut and kept working for Two and a Half Men”.
So there you have it, messed up huh? Sound familiar. LOL. I have another headache all of a sudden.
Yes…Pitt has a great brand. Tradition, academics, facilities, etc. But that alone may not carry the day. If you do an objective analysis of the criteria used by the conferences to select members…we may fall short against the competition when it comes to a vote. Hopefully we find a stable home that we are all comfortable with….but unfortunately it’s not guaranteed as some have duly noted.
One, the bridges are burned, two, the powers that be had to know this would be a possibility.
And three, wouldn’t suprise me if TAM doesn’t counter sue, after getting a letter from the Big 12 saying they were good to go. Now, the commisoner is saying, “oh, that letter just meant the Big 12 Inc., not the individual schools, sorry if I didn’t make that clear”. Sounds like a counter suit to me.
I concur with DaveD and FG both of whom I recognize as long time members of this group. There are many avid Pitt fans who read often but rarely post. Just look at the stat links that Chas has at the bottom of every page and you’ll see many more visitors than unique posting names within a thread.
Some folks just aren’t as willing to share their opinion as some of us, but when they do they usually have something insightful and important to say, at least in their opinion if not yours or mine. Calling them “trolls” just makes them less likely to share the next time.
I think Chas’ desire is to have a forum of differing opinions, not just like opinions, so unless it’s really obvious, like “WVU rules! Pitt sucks!” or “Pitt will get their asses handed to them by …” it’s likely just another Pitt fan with a different opinion, rather than a troll.
And, Chas is usually pretty good about spotting and calling out trolls himself. He doesn’t want them here either.
I’ll use the Gator Bowl as an example, because they actually had the option of choosing a BE team or not. For years I longed for Pitt to be in the Gator Bowl. Easy travel for me. My wife and I love nearby St. Augustine, and so forth.
Do you know how many times I got to see them at the Gator Bowl? Once! Even when we met all of the qualifications and I was sure we’d go, they chose a crappy Notre Dame team over us. Do you know how many times the Hoopies were there since that time? Six f’n times! Why? Because those teams fill the stadium and get the TV ratings. Sorry, that’s a fact. And we know, these conference moves are all about THE MONEY.
And, don’t forget that Hoopie Bear took WVU to a Final Four a couple of years ago. People remember that more than they remember winning records, regular season championships, etc.
Now, the two things that give me hope that we won’t be left out in the cold are:
1. We are a fine academic institution, with lots of grants and recognition for our research. These are Presidents doing the conference voting, so that has to mean something.
2. Pitt keeps coming up as a target for the Big 12. Joe Schad even mentioned it on College Football Live last night and didn’t mention anyone else. I’m not saying that we should bolt for the Big 12 (mel) but that proves there’s something attractive about Pitt to other conferences.
Therefore, I remain hopeful that whatever shakes out, our Panthers will be in good shape.
I don’t like, nor condone taunting, but, I loved it back then!!!! LOL
That’s when the Pitt defense led by Hugh Green and Ricky Jackson stifled South Carolina and Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers and ripped them 37-9.
Pitt got ripped for the National Championship that year. Many thought Pitt was the best team in the nation that year, but that early stumble at Florida State gave the title to Georgia who had squeaked by South Carolina at home 13-10.
Georgia played a 9-1-1 Notre Dame team in the Sugar Bowl instead of either Florida St. or Pitt. Had the BCS been in place then, it might have been a different story. (I can’t believe I’m defending the BCS.)
1) We should have had a shot a Georgia instead of Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, btw the NY Times Final College Football for 1980 had Pitt #1
2) Hugh Green got 861 votes and finished 2nd in the Heisman Trophy voting. He should have won it!
We blew away the Heisman winner’s team in the aforementioned Gator Bowl 37-9 and it wasn’t event that close.
3) I certainly appreciate you jumping all over me for calling people who belittle Pitt, trolls.
Why don’t you jump on them.
Just wanted to point out that they were legit and not trolls. Trolls are people who are from other schools and come here just to talk crap and cause trouble. DaveD just doesn’t have the same confidence in our future in a mega-conference world as you. That doesn’t make him a troll. He did say he hopes you’re right because he is a Pitt guy.
I agree with some of what he said and some of what you said. Pitt is a great school with great academics and a great tradition, but we don’t stack up in some areas to other schools. Part of that is our own fault. Part of it is because we compete with big state schools all around us who have larger enrollments and people who didn’t even to to college adopting them as “my school”. Therefore, they travel better, draw higher TV ratings nationally and slam the national message boards with their BS. It’s just a fact of life as a Panther fan.
