Pitt announced yesterday the start times for the first two games of the season (and the Thursday night game hosting VT, but we all knew that was going to be a 7pm game).
The season opener against Villanova will be at 1:30 and shown on ESPN3.
The September 10 game against Penn State will be at noon and shown on ESPN or ABC. Disappointing, but not too surprising.
The primary reason — and deserved focus for much ire — has to do with the Pittsburgh Pirates playing the same day at 7pm. Could they have asked MLB to move the game time to earlier in the day to allow Pitt to play in the evening? Possibly. Did they?
“We have not asked MLB to consider rescheduling our [Sept.] 10 game,” Pirates vice president of communications and broadcasting Brian Warecki said in a statement. “We are instead very excited about what should be a full and fun weekend on the North Shore. In addition to the baseball and football games on Saturday, we will have dueling Pitt and Penn State University Days on Friday night [Sept.] 9 in order to give the great Pitt and Penn State Pirates fans the opportunity to show their school pride on Friday night as well.
“Working together with Pitt, the SEA and ALCO Parking, we will ensure that Pirates fans have access to the North Shore and reserved parking well in advance of our 7:05 start.?”
Their VP of communications issues this kind of statement? Essentially saying, “We wish to make explicit, that we have zero interest in doing anything to accommodate what we see as competing sports-entertainment. But, come to our games under the guise of school pride. Oh, and we will make sure that the tailgaters from that football game are kicked out of the lots well before our game that night.”
It’s the fact that the Pirates openly admit that they would not even consider trying to switch their game time that is galling. The subtext being that Pitt and possibly ESPN approached them about a potential change only to be rebuffed.
Now, the counterpoint. It was very unlikely that ESPN/ABC wanted this game at night.
As historical as this game is. As important as it is to the Commonwealth. It is still a game being played between two programs that are not pre-season top-25 teams. Two teams that finished in the middle of their divisions in their conferences last year and likely to be picked to finish somewhere close to the same spot. Penn State has already been shut out all prime time games this season on the Big Ten Network.
Some of the other games that day: BYU-Utah, Iowa St-Iowa, Arkansas-TCU, Tenn-VT (spectacle alert, as game will be played at Bristol Motor Speedway),
Possibly ESPN/ABC would have preferred a 3:30 start for this game, but that is completely unworkable with the Pirates playing the same day.
Thanks for changing the subject back to something relevant. I’m sick of listening to grown men whine about prom dresses.
Just like Rodney Dangerfield, “we can’t get no respect” even when PSU is in town.
Pirates costing the City lots of revenue.
National tv at noon not optimal but neither
is either team. Just beat PSU and stop
the whining.
Now, this game will still rate highly in the Northeast … but will raise little interest nationally whether noon or prime time.
It is still a rivalry game, and should get good ratings. Does VT have a bigger following than Pitt? Does Tennessee have a bigger following than PSU? Are those two rivals? Just because they are a NasCar event?
This game has tradition and history and highlight films. We are getting screwed.
Both teams trying to claw their way back into the limelight, getting shuffled back into the deck.
Frank MD..beating Penn State is always great..wait til Sept 10th..that thrill will return..State govt should make them play yearly IMO..they both get taxpayers $$$ and it is a match-up the fans want…but what governing body gives a flying phuck what the people want anymore…I am excited for the students who will be there witnessing a true rivalry for the first time…If anyone sees Barnes tell him BigB wants the car magnets back I gave him.. He just doesn’t get it…
But this is the biggest Pitt game at Heinz since we played Cinci for the Big East title. You would think the Pirates could show a little professional courtesy and relinquish the big stage for one freakin night. I hope they get rained out!
BigB, you do know that UPMC stands for University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Maybe a separate legal entity, but they do share a campus, provide athletic facilities and health care to our students and employees.
While I am not an OCS supporter, this is a good argument for one.
Ahh those were the days.
Or the SAE watching the action (with a young babe) on my tv and out my window into Pitt Stadium.
Let’s make something clear: Pitt fans should be happy ESPN and ABC are even considering putting one of Pitt’s games on TV. It’s great exposure for the program and can set up Pitt for an early appearance in the Top 25, if it can win the game impressively.
—————
The first sentence was over the top like Pitt has never been on national TV. The 2nd sentence infers that if Pitt beats PSU, it will open the door for Top 25 (he may be overestimating his Nitters)
I may also order a new customized football jersey even though I don’t like the design that says on the back… F. Paterno.
SP ignored us and did the same, just with a finger, and no circus.
Wonder what jumbo head PT does before sex?? Hoping to hide the coming disappointment?? Fireworks maybe??
No one on the west coast gives a shit.
Barnes didn’t change the school colors: WAA! WAA! WAA!
Let’s all make up juvenile names for AD Barnes!
Herman Munster
Jim Jones
Search Firm Shitter
If Ohio State and Michigan can play at noon….and most years they do play at noon…then we can play Penn State at noon.
But you guys really give our PR foes entirely too much ammunition by the constant whining.
It is incredibly unattractive. Think I’m wrong? Let’s see how you react to a whining child in a grocery store.
That is the same vibe you guys give off.
We will start gams when we want. Did we give up when the germans bombed pearl harbor?
College kids don’t get out of bed by noon on Saturday.
A regional telecast at 8:00 pm would be better than a national game at noon.
This is a lost opportunity.
Noon games suck!
Game needs to be later to get those old fires burning and the visceral hate for each other going. Alcohol and time (as in drinking the whole day) tend to work in that regard.
Another fail with a Nooner for this historic rivalry that was NEVER played at Noon ever before.
And then have a Warning Sign attached to it.
link to mobile.twitter.com
I tuned into the blog to see what was up and all I read is bitching.
What is wrong with 12:00 on ABC national TV and $20 million in the bank and being part of the ACC? Life should be good. I do miss “The Garden” for BB though.
UPittbaseball, I have no idea what you are trying to say in any of your above comments.
New subject:
Maybe we start paying off AAU coaches in BB and get some quick fixes before we regroup and hire that hot shot young coach we want.
Dokish, sorry, but I don’t think he knows what he talking about. PITT has a name, facilities, Eastern location, and lots of MONEY!
There are bunch of young aggressive good coaches in the Eastern Metro areas. Where to heck do you think most of them come from?
They would/will climb over each other to take the PITT job. How does PITT get rid of the present situation, I don’t know. I don’t want to wait 6 yrs.
I went to the OSU UM game two years ago after Thanksgiving and the student section was full.
Love the noon start. 9am on the west coast – wake up and boom! Football!
When 3:30 rolls around on September 10th, for all I care, the Pitt football team can be sporting blue & old gold pyjamas as long as the scoreboard shows that the Panthers have at least one more point than the Pedophiles at the final gun. As has been stated, this is a regional rivalry that 3/4 of the country won’t appreciate the importance of, but if Narduzzi is serious about bringing Pitt back to football back to being a true contender, then this OOC game is hugely important to win. Why? It’s all about perception and recruiting.
