Sure we don’t know Pitt’s full basketball schedule. Sure, we are not officially out of the Big East. Sure the schedule this year (especially at home) blows.
This time next year, Pitt will be in the ACC and we will be trying to figure out what kind of record Pitt will have in its first year in the ACC.
Well, an important part of that is figuring out the potential wins and losses on the schedule. Pitt’s 2013 schedule is all set except for the actual dates on the conference games.
Miami blog, The Seventh Floor has already figured out the entire conference schedule for 2013 based on a 9-game schedule with Pitt and Cuse on board. As a planned member of the Coastal Division (start trying to remember this stuff now), Pitt will get 4 home conference games in 2013 (odd years) and 5 conference games in 2014 (even years)
The conference schedule format is to play all six divisional foes (3 home, 3 away), two cross-division (1 home, 1 away), and one protected cross-divisional rival (alternating home/away)
Pitt originally had 5 non-con games scheduled, but that included NC State and at VT. Those obviously will not be on the schedule any longer.
Here’s Pitt schedule for 2013:
Home Games
Villanova (1-AA) — August 31
Notre Dame — November 9
Virginia (divisional)
UNC (divisional)
Miami (divisional)
FSU (cross-over)
Road Games
Navy — October 26
Georgia Tech (divisional)
Duke (divisional)
Virginia Tech (divisional)
Syracuse (protected rivalry)
Wake Forest (cross-over)
That’s a rather attractive home schedule with ND, Miami and FSU at home in the same year.
The only concern will be the dates for the games. Considering Pitt has two non-con well into the season, there are two possibilities. Either Pitt is going to be off a lot in September and then playing 11 straight games with no byes. Or the conference slate will start early.
Yeah, I’m ready to skip ahead a year.
But schools like Miami and FSU have been pushing to get rid of them, because they haven’t worked well. Instead they find themselves losing conference games early. Considering the whole revamping of their schedule system, it is not clear what they will do starting next year.
A few related thoughts:
-When was the last time Pitt played consecutive road games against Syracuse, or any other team for that matter?
-I wonder if current (Nova) and future (Navy) big east teams will want to play Pitt? I don’t see Pitt buying out either of those games, but I just wonder if there will be any lasting ill will. Navy is a team I always like playing, and I hope they can recur on the schedule.
-Finally, a list of non-con games I would like to see as part of a semi-regular rotation:
-Notre Dame
-Navy
-Penn State
-Rutgers
Toss in a 1-AA warmup and mix in 2 of those teams every year. No West Virginia. I hate ’em so much I don’t ever wanna see ’em again.
I have to admit, I rate possible road trips not just on the quality of the teams, but also on the destination. In limited experience, I’ve found Blacksburg to be a lot of fun, and for the most part, the people (particularly the alumni) very good natured. I also really like the Durham/Chapel Hill area, plus I have family there. In any case, it is a happy collateral effect that the road trips in the ACC are generally much more interesting than the Big East.
Pitt played consecutive road games against Temple in 2003 and 2004.
Having said that, went home in a very bad mood many times as Pitt was upset. Will never forget one of Foges teams that outweighed the mids 80lbs/man on both lines getting beat late in the game due to Pitt fumbles, interceptions and very poor head coaching.
that this ACC schedule isn’t night and day……. more exciting, sexier, more nationally relevant and exceptionally more difficult than the BE.
I hope it was just a bad day, because I hope everyone is as pumped as I.
@BigGuy and some others, I do understand your plight, with losing games that you can get too in St.Johns, Seton Hall and Rutgers because of where you live.
That would be disappointing, hopefully you can come around.
I also would never disparge the Big East except for the management. They ran it like a third rate department store.
Loved the Big East hoops, hope the schools land on their feet, loved playing Villanova and G-town, who didn’t???
Time to move on, and we’ve landed pretty nicely, football, hoops, olympic sports and academically wise!!
Hail to Pitt!!!
Been reading the blog for months and never posted, but always look forward to what is posted and the comments.
Either case…seeing this schedule and basing on current performance I see a 7-5 season in 2013. Obviously depending on this years performance and recruiting I may up that next year (maybe down). Looking forward to it!
I think most of us are hoping that we will be even more improved next year with Coach Chryst, and hopefully he can get the ball rolling with recruiting, his coaching and improve each year, right??
No one seemed to be predicting how Pitt would do with this schedule. I doubt many were or are expecting Pitt to go into the ACC and dominate. Not with how Pitt has missed every chance to do it in the Big East. It’s clearly a more challenging schedule.
It’s nice that the home schedule includes three very attractive games. Which makes season ticket sales a little better. There’s a little speculation about some road trips as well.
Still have to wait and see how Chryst does as head coach in this season before unbridled optimism sets in for the ACC competition.
But on the field, the Big East was just as good or better than the ACC. I don’t see this schedule being any harder than what we’ve had in BE conference play the last decade.
WVU was better in the last 10 years than any ACC team we will face. Cincy had a few very good seasons. Both of these teams could have won the ACC the years they won the BE.
All in all, I LOVE the move to the ACC. But you won’t convince me the play on the field will be better than we’ve faced the past decade.
I’m very happy to get out of the Big East Football conference, my primary concern is the possibility that ACC will start start losing their premium teams just like the Big East did in 2004….
I love the ACC for basketball, hell the roadtrips are even better. I’m just tired of always waiting for the other shoe to drop and it seems that is what we at Pitt have experienced for the last 9 years.
As far as the ACC schedule, I like it alot. The teams are just full of history and to be a part of it is just exciting. Listen, at many of the venues, we will not have too much difficulty getting tickets which is awesome. Most venues are in warmer climates within a tank and a half of gas from me so that is promising!! I always hit the USF game in Tampa over the last six years and the Cincy games. As I see the ACC, there is a competitive balance in football which may be bad for the national media. There are no games where I can say Pitt will be a substantial underdog or favorite. Does FSU run faster than WVU? No off weeks though fellas, gotta work!
ND: Last Year 8-5
Virginia: Last Year 8-5
UNC: Last Year 7-6
Miami: Last Year 6-6
FSU: Last Year 9-4
Navy: NC, Last Year 5-7
GT: Last Year 8-5
Duke: Last Year 3-9
VT : Last Year 11-3
Syracuse: Last Year 5-7
Wake Forest: Last Year 6-7
From my perpective, Pitt should kick-ass in the ACC.
If Foster goes to ‘Bama I think he’s making a mistake he will regret. He’d absolutely the #1 WR at Pitt and probably kill in the ACC, but he may have a hard time even getting on the field as well as being consitently successful against the defenses he’ll face in the SEC.
Also j Jackson leaving means the offer to challingsworth not look too bad. He’s a sleeper very athletic. And on a side note I heard a lot of walk ones are coming. Decent ones too. Won’t hurt to add depth.
However, that seems to have settled down quite a bit, and if you have missed anything, here’s a little run down.
1. People were worried that ACC wouldn’t be involved in playoffs or hard to get too. Not only was Swofford involved highly with those talks, he was a spokesman on many issues when it was resolved.
2. ACC now, not only has a good as shot as anyone (still waiting on top 25 formula true), but they have hooked up with the Orange Bowl for the next million years, and the playoff format has included the Orange Bowl in the playoffs.
3. FSU was 2 million in the red. The ACC had not passed out additional monies to the teams from the tv deal. They then passed out an additional 3 mil, and FSU ath dept in the black.
4. Found out late, Clemson not really ever on the Big 12 radar at all.
5. FSU, only if they could land big fish ND
6. Big 12, members nervous about adding anyone else, don’t know if they will get a bigger contract even by adding. May dilute members paychecks.
7. Coaches for Clemson, and some big boosters for FSU publicly stated that the ACC is where we belong, where we are recruiting is and where are rivalries are.
8. With pathway to get to Nat Champ possible in ACC, both teams would have to be nuts. Love the ACC, but, I admit, it would be easier to go 12-0 in the ACC, than in the Big 12. Especially for those two, who are at the top of the pecking order.
In Big 12, they would be about 3rd, 4th or 5th. Very tough time going to NC.
Also, getting to playoffs will be a financial bonanza and NC even more. With easier road in ACC, I believe the ACC is set for quite awhile and I think everyone is staying.
Yes, it could change tomorrow, but I think things have settled down quite a bit.
Also, the profs at the schools want to stay with the Academic ACC.
Yes, it’s about football, and it’s about money, and 20 million to 17 million, 3M difference is a lot of money.
The other way to look at it though, gotta do up some tables on travel expenses, loss of geography recruiting and rivalries. When all said and done???????
Yes, it’s more money, but, it’s not like the ACC is getting 17 million, and the Big 12 is getting 45 million. I mean, 3 million in this day and age can get chopped up pretty quickly.
Plus, FSU, Clemson and Va Tech are all in the top 10-12 this year pre season. One of them runs the table and gets to the finals, or wins the NC, the ACC is sitting high, and a couple good years in a row, there is a look in window at the tv contract.
Positions could change easily in a few years.
I think we’re sittin good Marco!!!
I guess part of my decision on the possible record would be due in part to the perceived mediocrity of their current schedule in terms of opponent record last year. In the past Pitt has made sure to stay with their level of competition and not exceed it…Hence a 7-5 season is in order for us until PC can get that trend turned around.
I’m excited for what is coming soon…I am a current season ticket holder along with my parents and we’re getting a little bored of not knowing whom we’re watching on the field.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf–advocacy-group-penn-state-players-transfer-without-restrictions.html;_ylt=AhMz.x0PxW_31Of8nOdTiscLcykA;_ylu=X3oDMTFoZnA0Y2I3BG1pdANCbG9nIEluZGV4IGJ5IEF1dGhvcgRwb3MDMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFCbG9nSW5kZXg-;_ylg=X3oDMTFrODdzYXZuBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANhdXRob3IEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3
I am very pleased to let you know that we have reached an agreement that allows Pitt’s move to the Atlantic Coast Conference July 1, 2013. We have much work to do prior to that time, including having a very successful year in the Big East in what will be our final season.
We are honored to be joining the historic Atlantic Coast Conference with its outstanding institutions as our partners.
It is important that we also remember that for our seniors, 2012-13 will be the most important season of their careers. We will do everything possible to make sure this final season in the Big East, and their final season, is a great success. It will be a delicate balance, but we need to focus our commitment to our student-athletes on Big East success this season prior to celebrating the move to the ACC.
To many constituents and our recruits, it is time to trumpet the move to the ACC. As one of the truly historic brands in college sports, we believe the ACC provides the best combination of academic and athletic success of any major conference. The principles of the ACC are “A Tradition of Excellence… Then, Now, and Always.” These principles are right in line with the great history and continuing aspirations of the University of Pittsburgh. We have already seen many of the benefits of ACC membership in just the past year.
This move to the ACC begins a new era of greatness in Pitt Athletics and the future is even brighter for those who love this University. While it has always been a great time to be at Pitt, our greatest days still lie ahead.
Steve Pederson
I am one of those dudes who thinks that if Pitt fans are exposed to college football done the right way, interest and the fan base will grow.
I hope but don’t know that the “in addition to other considerations” language means the BE will be separately making Pitt whole for the loss of the WVU and TCU home games this year by pasing a separate check in the other direction for a million or so cut of the $20 million WVU payout; or, perhaps, at least apromise of a cut if the BE wins the TCU lawsuit for the $5 million exit fee.
However, I am not holding my breath on either consideration.
All stories are saying “The deal with Pitt includes the $5 million it already paid after it announced it was leaving and agreed to remain in the conference until July 1, 2014.”
So Pitt is only in for the 2.5 million remaining.
Anybody want to pass a bucket around? lol!
but i think it is fate that pitt win it all in its last year in big east.
I also think are coach is a good enough coach that we can do it i am not sure he can recruit but he will have enough talent left bye the outher 2 coachs that he should have winning seasons for the next 2 years first year in the ACC he goes 8 and 4.
what happens when he has to use the players he recruited i dont know unless he recruits better next year.
Sadly, when we played at Annapolis a few years back, I asked about Chet. After the funny tales of how his Jack Lambert like demeanor was not restricted to the field, I learned that Moeller has some form of dementia and is not
doing well. What a player and Coach Majors was right.
Now on to the ACC and here are my thoughts and hopes.
Like being in the same division as UNC and DUKE
Look forward to a more gentile college football experience
Wish the switch were made when my folks lived in Chapel Hill..they are both gone now
I truly hope this launches the entire athletic department to aspire to do great things..not just football and hoops but improve our other sports…add crew and a golf team…increase revenue so the real college athletes, the club sport players get improved facilities.
Finally, I thank the Big East for being there when we needed them and for all the good times…let’s not focus on the bad..I wish them well.
Hail to Pitt.
I think we can expect the conference schedule to start early from now on. With only 3 non-conf games and the ND game always being thrown in during the middle of the season, I think we can expect to have Week 2 or 3 conference games regularly moving forward.