With the announcement last week of ND coming to the ACC, lead to the discussion of schedules. On the football side, there was the acknowledgment that Pitt-ND games will change from a yearly game to a once-every-three (or two)-years action. That would open the door to putting Penn State on the schedule with more frequency. And indeed, following AD Steve Pederson’s comments suggesting it, the acting PSU AD echoed the growing possibility.
[David] Joyner, Penn State’s acting athletic director, told the Tribune-Review on Friday he hopes to visit Pederson in Pittsburgh during the football season. Any face-to-face discussions wouldn’t be just about resuming the once-great rivalry, but Joyner acknowledged it would be a significant part of his visit.
“There certainly is a philosophical meeting of the minds,” Joyner said. “It would be very interesting to look to see if we can make it happen, to have more games in the future.”
The Big 10 just had their planned annual games with the Pac-12 fall apart because of the Pac-12 playing 9 conference games annually, and teams like Stanford and USC that regularly play ND. The Big 10 still plays 8 conference games, but Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delaney has been publicly saying that the Big 10 schools need to do a better job on non-con scheduling.
Almost certainly Pitt will be playing PSU in basketball soon. If not in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge, then as a scheduled non-con.
So there’s that, but what about WVU?
After Pitt got the invite to the ACC, but before the Big 12 needed to get WVU, the WVU AD Oliver Luck spoke a little too quickly about how much Pitt needs the Backyard Brawl. Reality actually suggests otherwise. Pitt has an easier time finding teams willing to do home-and-homes in football. More so than WVU.
Yes, WVU travels well. Yes, there is excitement over WVU in the Big 12 by their fans. But there is still a question of how long that enthusiasm lasts for the games against Kansas, K-State, Iowa St. and Texas Tech. The Brawl is probably a bigger deal to WVU fans than Pitt fans.
Plus, there are the travel costs. The Brawl takes on greater importance, given what the Hoopies have to spend on conference travel. A road trip to Pitt becomes a very affordable bus trip. No hotel costs. So, Luck has been a lot more conciliatory sounding regarding resuming the Backyard Brawl as soon as possible. It has become clear, though, that Pitt is not going to rush back to scheduling the Hoopies in football.
But what about basketball?
That should be different for Pitt. As we saw with this off-season scheduling headaches, Pitt is struggling to put a decent non-con schedule that provides any reward to season ticket-holders. Pitt is not a place like Kentucky where the fanbase will mutter but ultimately bend-over and take a laughably bad home non-con slate.
It seems, though, that the Backyard Brawl in basketball is not looking promising right now.
[Bob] Huggins said Monday he has told Jamie Dixon he’d like to restart the rivalry as soon as possible, but the Pittsburgh coach has been non-committal. Next season will be the first year since 1918 that the two longtime regional rivals have not faced one-another during the basketball season.
“I’ve said we’re willing to play,” Huggins said. “It’s a great rivalry. Why wouldn’t we play Pitt? You want to talk about the betterment of the student-athlete and doing what’s right by the student-athlete? We’re talking about an hour and a half drive. We’re not talking about flying across the country. It just makes sense. There’s not a downside.
“It’s great for the fans. The players really enjoy it. You can play the game and be home. There’s no problem waking up and going to class the next day. You’re not missing class time. All the reasons anyone could give for starting a series or maintaining a series, they’re all there. They’re all positive.”
Huggins, however, is better at the politics than his AD. Coach Dixon has been quite vague about the whole issue of the Brawl — and scheduling in general. But Huggins isn’t going to be accused of trying to put the blame on Dixon since the basketball coach has a lot of the responsibility for setting the schedule.
“When I’ve talked to Jamie about it, it was kind of like, ‘We’ll have to see,'” Huggins said. “I don’t know how much of it is Jamie’s call or not. That’s what I think. I don’t know either way, but I wouldn’t put it all on Jamie. Or even any of it on Jamie.”
Maybe it is the AD and/or Chancellor at Pitt is ordering a break from the Hoopies after last year. Maybe it is simply Dixon waiting to get a feel for how things go in the ACC first. Maybe it is part of linked negotiations between Pitt and WVU where the Hoopies want to make sure the football side resumes as well, but Pitt won’t do that.
I’ve made no secret that I want to keep playing the Hoopies. In both sports. The games are too good. The hate is real. And true, time-tested rivalries are one of the great things in sport.
Reality says that WVU becomes more rotational in football, given a 9-game conference schedule. Along with rotating ND and hopefully PSU regularly for Pitt. There is, however, no reason not to play in basketball annually. FSU does it with Florida, Clemson and South Carolina as well as Georgia Tech and Georgia all do so.
Let the hiatus be brief.
no way huggie bear get on a jet i dont want to make any thing easy for them.
and with more game with penn state who needs WVU
i would rather play marshel or wisconsin or navy.
I.m afraid I’m with Huggy Bear on this one.
or financial interests either.
keep calm
hail to pitt
As for WVU, 13-9 is our best win in years, now that they play in the Big 12 and us in the ACC it seams that it could be a huge rivalry game, if both were good it would bring alot of hype and attention to both schools and it could still be played in late november, I know nobody wants to go to Morgantown, but I would rather see ND or WVU played one 2 years and one 1 year than see PSU at all I just can’t forget how we have been treated
I have mixed emotions about football but would not be against it unless we can schedule PSU every year … I can see the backyard brawl a Labor Day tradition
As for basketball there is absolutely no reason Pitt and WVU shouldn’t be playing each other annually. No questions asked. I realize Pitt needs to schedule its share of non-con cupcakes, but would anyone honestly be upset if they replaced Binghamton, Wofford, Rider or VMI with WVU? I personally hate going to a half-full Pete with absolutely no atmosphere when one of those teams comes to town.
When they got in front of the student section they pulled down the sheet showing a second banner: BUT WVU SWALLOWS
That has summed up my emotions on the two since that day!
Hail To Pitt!
and BC will be back and ND every 2 or 3 years
i hate thoes red necks dont want to ever go there
would like it if we played maryland.
the hell with them, in both sports.
Enjoy Isolation Island!!!
“We have a lot of alumni who want us to play WVU. We also have a lot of alumni elsewhere who want us to play against teams near them.”
WVU, meh. Whatever.
“better looking wife, better fans, better food”
Like going to the shore for vacation, the eggs, bacon, toast and coffee are the same as they are at home……….
but, somehow, it tastes better!!!!
After I re-read it, didn’t come off as I thought!!!
LMAO
Sounds like I meant, stuff looks better, but is the same!!!!!!!! LOL
Not at all, the wife, food, fans, campuses will in fact be MUCH BETTER!!!
I agree totally with you!!!!!
That’s why I shouldn’t type so fast with my thoughts.
Perhaps something on, if my job ever got transferred to a shore area permamently?????
I don’t know what the eff I’m talking about, I don’t even have any booze in me!!!
Anyhow, your points are excelletn, sounds like something from Seinfeld, I can hear Jerry saying that, “the food tasted better, the people are better lookin'”.
I’m done, I’ll try again tomorrow!!!!!! LOL
but i get your point.
Scheduling OOC games in hoops is way easier than in football. No reason for that not to happen.
As for football, I’ve never been in favor of scheduling 1aa schools, and I don’t even think the NCAA should allow it. One tuneup against a MAC/CUSA/Sunbelt/etc opponent, two non-con games against real teams, then your 9 conference games.
That would give Pitt plenty of leeway for OOC rivalry games, and even occasionally schedule other non-conference foes.
In the West, you don’t see Stanford or USC or even Cal lowering themselves to play Fresno State…not lowering in terms of level of competition…Fresno could have kicked many as ass over the years and to be honest WVU has kicked ours with decent regularity in football as we have in hoops o er recent years.
But in Cali, Fresno has the same well earned reputation as the place you get your degree when no one else will take you and where vulgarity is encouraged and admired. Just like the university of West Virginia (as Smiley called them in a video some years back).
Fresno is isolated and the same needs to be done to WVUlgar. Pitt does not “need” WVU, Pitt just purposely distanced themselves from them. Luck was pissed that he did not get asked to the ACC and was pissed that Pitt turned it’s back on WVU.
I would have been pissed off as well. So Luck mitigates his damages and gets into the Big 12. Best move possible with the hand he is dealt. Then, Luck fans the flames of potential FSU, Clemson ACC departure and Big 12 expansion. But the ACC grabs enough of ND to put that matter to rest and now the winter is about to arrive and Ames Iowa isn’t as close as it seemed in June.
WVU needs Pitt. That is why you hear Huggins (who I like by the way—whatever he is, hippocrite is not among them) speak as he does.
But in return for what? Coins in the eye, “Shit on Pitt”, urine in a bottle poured on your head as you walk beneath them?
The list goes on.
PSU and ND offer bigger paydays, fewer headaches and more national prestige.
Three goals that Pitt is better served reaching than a pissing contest with the neighbor to the near south.
I really think this VT win has gone to some fans’ heads. Don’t lose sight of the fact that Pitt football is in some seriously sad and piss-poor shape. We need all the exposure we can possibly get to get us out of the slump we’re in. And dare I say, aside from 13-9 (which was a top 10 sports moment of my life) WVU has lapped our football program. WVU has done nothing but win and win big, including on the biggest stages. Pitt has made a habit of perpetually s@#$ing the bed on midweek national coverage and Saturday deep cable.
Let’s think with our heads. We’re Panthers after all, not hoopies.
Hail To Pitt
Gives Pitt the best of all worlds.
2 Lets schedule WVU and PSU in FB and BB
Will VT become a rival? Who knows. Maryland? meh.
PSU has NO rival in the B1G. They tried to make up one with Mich St, but Mich St will tell you that Michigan is their rival. There’s no rivalry with OSU either. OSU also views Michigan as their top rival. PSU is/was a tough game for these teams, but the animosity never reaches the level that Pitt-PSU or Pitt-WVU maintains.
PSU snubbed Pitt since they moved to the B1G. They were too good for us. They didn’t need us. How did that make us feel?
I don’t want Pitt to turn into PSU in this regard. Keep WVU in both sports.
But it would be good for both Pitt and WVU to somehow keep their ties on the gridiron and on the basketball court, as pghFred just said. Don’t be a PSU type bitter snob.
Excellent. HTP
Perhaps they are mad at each other, but, I would suspect, it would be more of the fans mad at Pitt and Syracuse.
A lot of ath. admin people can get over things easily when a game is needed or money is needed.
My proposal for more non-conferece hoop games that would be big non-con games, and rivalry games would be ……………………..
Villanova, Georgetown and UCONN. Why not???
Would be awesome!!!!
Villanova and G-town are hoops schools anyhow, they would probably be fine with all the football teams leaving, expand with the Atl 10 Catholic schools and have a mega conf.
Is there really any animosity there??
UCONN??? They’d be all for it. They will be wanting to keep on Pitt and Syracuse’s good side, in case anything ever develops with ND joining the ACC for football. As long as that’s out there, they’ll place nice.
I Jamie wanted to get really crazy, schedule Villanova and UCONN (if willing of course) alternating. One year have UCONN coming here, go to Nova. Next year Nova home, go to UCONN.
Get to keep our fingers in the NYC, Philly recruiting areas.
Maybe the BE will put out an ultimatum to schools not to schedule Pitt and Syracuse, for any sports, who knows.
I’d look into it though.
And, I still say, leave WVU on ISOLATION ISLAND in all sports!!!!!
Football is much more complicated. Plus, as others have said, I would let Mr. Luck stew in his comments a few years. Let’s see where WVU is as a program in 4-5 years.
I’m looking forward to the ACC match ups and continued ND games. I would like to see PSU became a regular game again.
Football wise, who cares about WVU. Morgantown is a dangerous place for Pitt fans. It doesn’t matter if you have personally experienced it or not. I went to Iowa last year and it was an awesome experience. All the fans were super friendly and invited us to random tailgates even though we were the “enemy.” I’d pick going to another game at Iowa over playing at WVU 100% of the time. And if you are talking about rivalry between familes with degrees from both schools, no one from Western PA actually goes to WVU because we know of the substandard education there. Of all the people that I went to school with and of all the people I know that went to Pitt, I can think of 0 who have a family member who went to WVU. PSU on the other hand I know quite a few families.
How do you compare Fresno St to WVU, USC/UCLA are crosstown rivals and Cal and Stanford arn’t far off they all play each other that is there good business. A highly ranked WVU/Pitt game sells out and maybe brings gameday to town that is our good business playing a delapitated PSU team does nothing for Pitt it will sell out but will only have regional interest. The Backyard Brawl is a national brand and puts Pitt in the national spotlight lets not be petty like PSU and get WVU back on the schedule
The total conference schedule obligation is nine games in conference, so that only leaves us three out of conference games a season. One of those games should always be with a lesser conference cupcake team that can be scheduled early season when we need a cakewalk, tune up game.
So what do we do with the other two? I’d much prefer to reignite the Pitt-Penn State game than keep the WVU game. Then there is ND that we should continue at all costs even if it is not played on an annual basis.
That means that there is really only one game available on our schedule if the above occurs.
Now just to rub the Hoopies nose in it, I personally would like to see us schedule any other teams in the Big 12, that we have a history with, like Oklahoma, and play them instead of WVU. I say let WVU twist in the wind!
How do I compare WVU to Fresno? Easy, close proximity to other schools in different conferences.
USC/UCLA & Pitt/PSU are national rivals…WVU is the brawl and comes nowhere near national brand like Pitt/PSU…hell, even Brad Nessler thought West Virginia was the western portion of Virginia and not its own state.
You don’t rescue your nearest competitor, you vanquish him.
Some of you might be too young to remember, but in its day that rivalry was as hot and as much fun as Michigan-OSU, Texas-Oklahoma, ed River Shootout, Bedlam, The Holy War, The Civil War, or any other.
In fact, the only reason the Backyard Brawl even became a rivalry to Pitt was because the PSU game went away. Back when we played both, WVU cared a lot more about playing Pitt than we did about playing them.
In fact, if the PSU game renews, I couldn’t care less if we ever again play those couch-burning knuckleheads from Morgantown.
Not just because I’m a Pitt guy.
Just facts, allthough it may be hard for some younger fans to believe.
OSU-Mich, Texas-Ok, Neb-Ok, Pitt-PSU not only said in the same breath, some years it was the most anticpated game.
To point. Not sure what year, but, on the Friday after T-giving it was played, the Today Show had one of their segments on the game, that would be played that afternoon.
Interviewed J. Sherrill and J. Paterno live during the segment!!!
Not together mind you, they hated each other too.
If they played every year, it would get back a lot of that.
Mind you, not playing twice every 8-10 years, I realize that.
I’m saying, if it was EVERY YEAR.
Many, many more families and friends know people, many times in their immediate family, that go to PSU. Very few WVU.
We also have gone by them as far as having the upper hand (which they always felt they had).
Top 5 research school, ACC conference, top hoops school and the scandal will permanently put them behind Pitt. (no pun intended) LMAO!!!!!!!!
I actually fear some of the up coming games, as I hope Pitt fans can stay classy, because it would be real easy, with a few beers in ya, to get real nasty with PSU people for the considerable future.
I would think the onus, would be on the PSU fans though. If some PSU fan would start the “Shit on Pitt” stuff, then, I’m afraid, all’s fair in love and war.
I always found WVU a rivalry, but in the sense of, “bunch a hicks”, even at times, if lost, “so what, you have to go back and live in W.V.”
The PSU game, was the one, that when you were winning near the end of the game, you quietly said to yourself, “please, please, please, let this game end and let us win”.
I am old enough to remember the great Pitt/PSU rivalry but we have only played them 4 times in the last 20 years and the last game that was big time was longer than that, 30 year old people don’t remember it, PSU will win 4 to 5 games this year and this will be the best team they will have in the next 8-10 years maybe longer, T-shirts were pulled from Ohio State shelves that read I would rather shower at PSU than root for Michigan, PSU is a punchline they arn’t competitive anymore its time to stop beating a dead horse
Yes, playing Oklahoma and Texas will help with WVU recruiting.
However, Pitt playing and beating WVU will do next to nothing for Pitt recruiting.
Miniscule at best. Perhaps a WPIAL player or two.
WVU just doesn’t have any national cache. If Pitt were to beat them, “no one across the nation is going to sit up and say, ‘wow, Pitt beat WV’.
I mean, they just don’t. They are not in with Alabama, Oklahoma, USC, and the Michigans and Ohio States of the world. They just aren’t.
They could win the NC, they still wouldn’t have any national cache.
Example, they could beat Texas, and Texas would still be known as a football powerhouse, WV, would be known as a team that had a good year.
So, I wouldn’t make too much out of recruiting for the benefit of Pitt, as a reason to play them.
Whose to say, they won’t tank this year or the next few anyhow??
Always rumors of Holgersen wanting to go to one of the Okies or Texas school to be head coach, so I wouldn’t worry too much about WVU.
Ask most college football fans, who has a better program, who is more of a hot bead of college football, who would you rather watch on t.v.,
9 out of 10 are still going to say Clemson, even after the smackdown.
Low, low profile.
Now, if you start talking about the movie “Wrong Turn”, well then………..
Quite easy actually.
They finished 17th last year.
Not even ranked in final top 25 at end of 2010. Lost to NC State in Champs Bowl
09′ finished 25th, lost to Florida St. in Gator Bowl.
I’m not talking about how good they may be.
I’m talking about the perception nationally of WVU.
There almost is no perception of them nationally.
Ya, actually, Clemson is way out in front of WVU.
That’s gotta be killing their fans. They woop on a team, and they still have no value.
Oh well, good for them , they deserve it, right???
Someday, if they win the Big 12 several times, are consistently in the top 10, 4 or 5 years in a row, then it might be worth re-considering.
For now,
Let them play with Iowa State, Kansas and Baylor.
Not that they get much press in Pittsburgh in the newspaper, radio or on the tv news sports to begin with, but, I’ve almost heard nothing about them this year. I mean at all, hardly a mention.
It’s like they’ve fallen off the map.
I say, keep isolating them. Don’t need em’!!!
You do have to admit, Morganhole is one the worst places to go to a football game.
The state of West Virginia is about as backwards as they come.
And with everyone at WVU being related because of the in-breeding problem…
we should take our time with who we dance with.
At least we can agree that WVU is crap!!!
So they can park in handicap spaces!!! LOL
They both got into West Virginia!!! LOL
HTP!!!!!
I’m sure you posted before, but there are a couple Steve’s.
And sometimes, people hijack names to troll.
I now realize, you just really love that game.
I hope you’ll accept my apology, I really thought we may have had a Mountie among us, and I apologize for badgering.
Your points are valid.
Maybe I should have read some of the above posts that you were countering.
Of course, playing Tx and Ok will help their recruiting.
I should have seen your text in context. My fault.
Still, personally, I would rather play PSU, but, all of us are different, and have different reasons. Some to help Pitt, some for nostalgia, recruiting, etc. etc.
Again, sorry for the badgering, I really thought someone had stolen your tag, should have read more above.
I apologize, Dan.
its all good we can always agree to disagree as long as its not about our love for Pitt. WOW you thought I was a hoopie, OUCH. Sorry if I come on to strong with my posts it is that I haven’t lived in western Pa in over 25 years and have been arguing with arrogant midwest and mid-atlantic CFB fans for a long time.
This thanksgiving wknd we play Rutgers, UGH! It is my belief that playing in the big east has drug Pitt down. Back when Pitt/PSU were playing for NC games and big time bowls Rutgers and Temple were tune up games and Cincy was OSU warm up bitch, now this is who we compete with for a conf. title, but the Brawl has been the one constant game that has brought national attention, it is promoted during feast week and has replaced Pitt/PSU and Ok/Neb and it is a national brand anyone who does not know who is in the Brawl does not know college football! Now its gone and we play Rutgers and don’t know who is next, I’m sorry to see it go and not having the national attention I think hurts Pitt
Glad I missed the back and forth yesterday.
Fresno state wanted desperately to get into the PAC10 for decades. Well, we see they failed.
But when their push was trongest, it came with Sweeney as head coach. Much like the guy in Morgantown who bathes once a week whether ne needs it or not.
Those fresno teams were damn good and were itching to get into the PAC10. But the PAC10 WASN’T STUPID.
USC was suffering too as it hired some reject from Pitt by the name of Hackett after suffering since Robinson left.
USC eventually rebounded (LA’s pro team) and Fresno was squeezed out.
Saying that Fresno is not played because of their conference proves the point. Lots of PAC10 teams play non powers–New Mexico, etc…
But the point is that you don’t do it because this is a BUSINESS! Playing WVU is an emotional game, I understand that. But, it means nothing to the world outside. ND, PSU, OSU now that brings national attention…WVU has a wonderful program and I don’t begrudge them that, but Pitt needs to think bigger and PSU and ND on an annual basis clearly does that.
A final note…I lived in WV for many years….the myth that that team and school provides sell outs is a great con job…sure, when they have very good teams, they sell out some games, but even last year Holgerson was bitching about attendance…it is a very small market.
Most years, they will average in the 50’s for attednance…PSU, ND, OSU…well, not so constrained.
All on me, guess I’m looking for Mountie Ghosts that aren’t there.
Good day to you.
I will also suggest, this is a huge game for Pitt this weekend fellas.
Will they come out and keep the pressure on, hopefully a 42-10, 35-14, 45-3 win, or,
a nail biter 24-21 coming down to the last minute.
The team, Gardner-Webb isn’t exciting, but, we’ll learn a lot about this team this weekend.
HTP!!
This is a big game, 55-0, lets see the 2nd and 3rd string play alot.
sfpitt, I get that FSU students can’t spell Fresno and WVU students can’t spell Morgantown and Duke and USC don’t want to deal with their antics but on the field WVU is miles ahead.
The reason for this discussion is that ND is joining the ACC, we have a long term contract with them but that will change once the big east gets done extorting them and we don’t know when all this will go into affect. I contend that WVU is the best business plan for Pitt here is why, as I noted before espn2 highest rated game is Pitt/WVU these are small markets so it had to have had a large national audiance also the brawl according to Athlon sports 2011 is the 11th best rivalry in the country ahead of USC/UCLA you don’t make that list without a national following( PSU was not on that list), the 13-9 game was on all national media outlets for long after the game was over so people did stand up and notice that we beat them, it is horrible but you want the teams you play especially your rival to have a good season other wise nobody watches, a Big 12 vs ACC game will stir up intrest nation wide, more if they are both ranked.
OSU would be great and i’m all for it but they don’t need us to play them hopefully beat them and give recruits someone else close by to think about, and they can already come to PA and get big recruits (Terrell “the coach killer” Pryor) as an example, their rep is good enough to play cupcakes and still play for a title, so I just don’t see that happening.
PSU right now is a car wreck people are watching to see what bad thing is going to happen next, they are going to be a 3 win team for some time and people will stop going, at the Navy game quite a few upper tier seats were empty and after the Big 10 gets through beating the crap out of them there won’t be much left to see, they also showed the country how whacky they really are in their defence of Joe Pa and how the freeh report was wrong, you said we should bury the competition and we all complain about how we are out recruited by them so why play them and give them a chance to get that advantage back, they turned thier back on both Pitt and WVU so why not let the Brawl continue and freeze PSU out
