BWI is having a hard time figuring out why a recruit would pick Pitt

[wbrpanther]

..over PSU.

There are many reasons why a recruit picks the school they are going to go to.... but it seems the BWI folks think the thing that matters more than all else is how many butts are in the seats. If I were to list the pros and cons of picking Pitt vs PSU, there are many compelling arguments in Pitt's favor.

Practice Facility and Related:

Pitt players practice in a state-of-the-art facility 1 mile from campus alongside the greatest NFL franchise in history. While Pitt players are practicing, often just a few yards away are Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger, Leveon Bell, etc. That's what the Pitt players see at practice everyday. Before and after practice, they might cross paths with them in the lobby, at the cafeteria, etc.

At Penn State, when the player look a few yards away to see what's going on next to them at practice.... they see fields. They see cows. Lots of them. When they go the Lasch building to workout or shower after practice, does some small part of the back of their brain think about the atrocities that happened in the very showers they're standing in? Does that give them the heebie-jeebies?

ADVANTAGE: PITT

Education:

Both Pitt and Penn State are world-class institutions of higher learning. Both are routinely rated in the Top 50 or 75 universities in the world by publications that rate such things. Both have extremely high reputations for academic excellence.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Chance to Compete for Championships:

Pitt plays in the ACC, which has sent a team to the National Title game in two of the past three years, and to the playoffs each of the past three years. Fortunately for Pitt, they are not in the division with either of those two teams. Pitt has a realistic chance to compete for Coastal Division Titles (and therefore, ACC Titles).

PSU plays in the Big Ten, which has a sent a team to the playoffs each of the past two years. Unfortunately for PSU, those two teams reside in the same division as them. There is no realistic chance for PSU to surpass Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan in their division in order to compete for Big Ten Titles anytime soon.

ADVANTAGE: PITT

Chance to Advance to the NFL:

Both Pitt and PSU have put several players into the NFL over the past several years. In Pitt's case, over the past 15 years, they have produced one of the best wideouts and a likely hall-of-famer at WR (Fitzgerald), one of the best RBs in the game today (McCoy), one of the best DBs in history and a likely hall-of-famer (Revis), the current best defensive player in the NFL (Donald). All of those players, each with multiple pro-Bowls and at the very top of their profession, passed through Pitt over the past 15 years.

In addition, Pat Narduzzi has gained a reputation of getting 2- and 3-star recruits, especially DBs, into the NFL as high draft picks.

Penn State has produced lots of NFL talent as well... actually more NFL players, but fewer superstars and potential all-time NFL greats. In Franklin's career at both Vanderbilt and PSU, he has not yet garnered the reputation of "coaching players up" to make them NFL-caliber draft picks.

ADVANTAGE: Slightly to PITT

Social Life and Life Experiences Outside of Football:

Let's face it. As soon as football season is over at PSU, there is not much to do to excite young people on weekends and such. A handful of college bars and a bunch of fraternities that really know how to party. That's about it.

At Pitt... there is ALWAYS something to do. The bar scene on the southside blows away anything that happens out in State College (and this is sometimes a detriment to Pitt football, as we saw during the Walt and Wanny years). Major musical acts come to perform in Pittsburgh that simply don't make stops in State College. There are Bucco games, Pens games, Steeler games, etc. for the sports fan. And in the offseason on campus, there is a basketball team that, more often than not, is relevant. If you're a student at Pitt and you get bored on weekends, that's on you.

As someone who has had a daughter go to both Pitt and PSU, I can tell you that - even though Pitt is closer - my daughter didn't come home on weekends complaining that she was bored. My daughter at PSU came home many weekends because there was simply NOTHING to do at PSU once football season was over.

For players of color, Pitt has a much more diverse student body that might make them feel more comfortable. Other than the sports teams at PSU, the student body and surrounding areas are lilly white. Not that there's inherently anything wrong with that, it is the nature of the demographics. It definitely could cause some recruits to wonder how they'll fit in, however. Culture shock.

As for the girls.... there are plenty of beautiful young ladies at both schools..... but Pitt's student population is nearly 60% female (due in large part to the large Nursing program) and PSU's population is almost 50-50. Not a big difference, but a difference.

ADVANTAGE: PITT

Gameday Experience:

Most Pitt home games the past few years have had 35,000 to 45,000 fans. Never below 35k, and only above 45k for matchups with Notre Dame or FSU. In a 68,000-seat stadium with bright yellow seats... 35,000 looks like 20,000. Admittedly, this is a problem. But as the 2003 season showed, when Pitt averaged 55,000 at Heinz and sold out 3 of the 6 games.... when there's a winner or something special going on, Pitt fans turn out. Narduzzi has generated excitement around the program and ticket sales are going up. Having 15,000 Pitt fans go to Annapolis for the Military Bowl was a big sign that the fan base is getting engaged again after years of upheaval that led to apathy. Next season, Pitt will average over 50k.... and yes, there will be 68,000+ at the PSU game - 20,000 of which will be PSU fans.... but there will be 45-55k at the other games.

PSU has a monster stadium that holds 107,000. Typically, they only have 85-90k at the games unless they are playing Michigan or Ohio State.... but still.... 85K is a huge crowd - and with bleacher-style seating in which the fans can spread out, 85K doesn't show the 20K empties as much. They have a very large student section, because they have 40,000 students on campus. Still, it is an atmosphere that is better than Pitt's currently - and that is something the Nits hang their hat on.

ADVANTAGE: PSU

Coaching Staff:

Narduzzi has shown himself to be a coach that players want to play for. He has also surrounded himself with a group that are relentless and excellent recruiters. James Franklin has also shown a great ability to sell his program to recruits, but the shine is wearing off already. His best assistant left for a lateral position and was replaced by someone who has never been a coordinator before. He has shown himself to be a subpar gameday coach. His handling of 5-star QB Christian Hackenberg has proven to be a huge negative recruiting point that opposing coaches can use against him.

ADVANTAGE: PITT


Summary:

It is very understandable why PSU fans harp on attendance, attendance, attendance, yellow seats, yellow seats, yellow seats. That's because it is really the ONLY advantage they have over Pitt. And they know it. It's why it is all they talk about.

They can't argue that the Big Ten is much better than the ACC. On Field results the past few years show the two conferences to be pretty even.

They can't argue that PSU is a surer path to the NFL than Pitt. That's been demonstrated to be untrue over the past few years.

They can't argue that they have a more stable coaching situation anymore. James Franklin can't hold on to his lieutenants... and according to objective observers outside of both Pitt and PSU, he'll be on the hot seat by the end of next year if he has another 7-win or less season. Narduzzi has stabilized the Pitt coaching situation and if there were betting odds on such things, Narduzzi would be likely to be at Pitt longer than Franklin is at PSU.

They talk about attendance, because that is all they have. They think it is all that matters to recruits, because it is all that matters to them.

Those douchebags are still trying to figure out how they lost Tony Dorsett.

See, when your opinion of yourself far exceeds the reality of the situation things become inconceivable within your own mind. You just can't figure out why the world in general loves you less than you love yourself.

One thing is for sure. They are going to have to get used to this brave new world.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

"GoPennState97, post: 894568, member: 7995"]The game day experience at Penn State is really impressive and the crowd is part of that.
It is and no question to be proud of and I admire and respect it. But many drunks, hateful people yelling at other fans, coaches, and players too and that is nothing to proud of and I do not experience the same type of discourse at Ohio State, ND, USC, or UVA games? There was Miami Fans whose Girlfriend was hit in the head with a full beer can. There was an Interracial Couple from Michigan harassed in the stands. Nebraskan wrote a Letter to Editor how their Hats were stolen by PSU Fans? It is unsafe to wear any other Jerseys to Penn State Games, and once my friend that took me refused to put a Pitt Magnet Sticker on his Car as a bet for fear it would be damaged?

For the majority of the kids coming into the program that will not go on to the NFL, it is as close as they will get to performing on a big stage.
This is true at most Programs and Penn State does put in many Players in the NFL more than Pitt and many Pitt Fans that are Steeler fans love Jack Ham and Jeff Hartings and Franco Harris too and others that played at Steelers. No question, Penn State can be proud of those Players too? The problem is many PSU Fans do not feel the same way about CFB Program Players and that is where the rub happens?

Another factor is national exposure. Penn State games get more television coverage than Pitt games.
True again, especially due to the Big Ten Channel, but the Ratings are not always higher. A University of 80,000 will always have more Fans than one of 18,000 such as Pitt or Northwestern at 17,000. Also, that does not make Penn State superior in any way either! If it did, then the University of Phoenix would be considered the Best and they don't play Football!

Now that can be good or bad depending on how the team performs, but it is an advantage.
Agree, it is an advantage for Fan's Experiences, but not one Fan tackles or catches passes, and Players care about how they perform at all Programs and going to the NFL. Also, Ohio State, Michigan, and others have that same Fan Experience and UCLA, NW, Miami, Temple, Memphis, Vanderbilt, and Pitt being Urban Schools do have less Students and Fan Base. But again, does not make Penn State superior?

I was a student at Penn State from 93-97, pretty good glory years for the program and really the last time they were truly relevant on the national scene.
Yes, the 4 Years Penn State was being assimilated into the Big Ten and that 1994 Team was one of the finest I ever saw at Penn State and right up their Nationally too! Now that was a Superior Team!

I think that Joe Paterno should have retired in the early 2000's. I think that now and I thought that then, but I understand why he stayed and I also understand why he was allowed to stay.
Well, when they couldn't get him to retire was actually Lack Of Institutional Control, when a Football Coach can tell the College President what to do! Joe got too old and was not following all the New Rules or Laws too, that gave him a Competitive Edge and he couldn't win as much as he did in 1980s even with that edge? Joe was playing Players that had been suspended by the University and kept that quiet until after Signing Day? Now if he was willing to cover that up, the question was, what other things did he cover up?

State College is a fun town to go to school in. I grew up outside NYC and liked having the small town atmosphere, but it isn't for everyone.
Ever been there in Winter Time and during University Break? I was, looked like a Nuclear Winter Happen? It is OK, but from a Cultural Standpoint, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia offer a tad more diversity of entertainment?

Being from NJ, I was never part of the Pitt / Penn State hatred and rivalry. I am not under the delusion that Penn State is back from the sanctions.
It was very nice rivalry until Paterno came on Board and caused much problems, and put out myths about his Program while tearing down others?Joe was breaking the Big Four Agreement by stockpiling 35 Redshirt Freshmen a Year too when he took over in 1966, and reduced Foreign Language Requirements to gain an edge on WVU, Pitt, and CUSe that were obeying the Agreement.

They did (partially) what they were intended to do and that was damage the program. I can't understand why people think that Penn State should be in the title hunt while recovering from sanctions.
Until it happen back at him after joining the Big Ten, and Scandal uncovered! Joe wanted that Fame 409 Wins, and in the end it got it, and week later, it was exposed how his Fame to get there actually Shamed Penn State Name?

I don't know James Franklin, but I am willing to give him a chance to try to rebuild the program.
This is fair, and Franklin now admits he caused his own problems with his recruiting talk instead of his coaching walk! Up to him to show he can win 10 Games against mighty fine competition? Same with Narduzzi too!

Most Penn State fans are impressed by the way we weathered the sanctions and I think that has them a little greedy in thinking the team should be better than it is.
Agree, I predicted just like at USC, they would not have a Losing Season because it is a strong program. and Penn State Programs has many advantages over not just Pitt but over another 100 FBS Football Programs. I admire that aspect of Penn State too with respect too? This just makes it harder on Pitt to overcome those advantages and Pitt has done it before and will do it again, now that it has the Right People in the Right Places! Up to Pitt but Pitt can proud of its accomplishments as well!

The reality is that Penn State is down right now, for a specific reason and if the local teams cannot capitalize on it now, they never will.
PSU has been down since joining the Big Ten and even before the Sanctions. Pitt had to rebuild just get back to winning in 2000 too. It happens to all Programs! Some more than others, but the Culture of Football never makes anyone superior to any one else? It is fun to play and be rivals too over a game. Banter is expected!

So I am not surprised to see other schools moving in on Penn State's recruits. Pay back is a bitch, and Penn State did it to those programs for many years. It will all even out in the end. I am looking forward to the teams competing on the field next year. It should be interesting.
Agree, and when Penn State finds another Elite Coach (I Consider Joe A Great Coach Too) like USC, Bama, Miami, LSU, Michigan, OSU, it has teh Resources and Strong Program to comeback even sooner and maybe it is Franklin and maybe not, it takes time to do it and that does not make Penn State inferior or superior either.

Meanwhile, Pitt is trying to do the same with far less and that does not Pitt superior or inferior either, and never, it is just CFB, just a game, and we all want to win, but we are winners by respecting each other on and off the field. others may differ here, but this is how I feel, and nothing said on these Rival Boards can change anything, on making Pitt or PSU better, that is up to Higher Ups, Coaches and Players to win more games, and play great games against each other, keeping in mind it is just a game, played by two great Universities making each other better, with banter and bragging rights, but not much more?

Good Post Thank You!

 

[drunkinoakland]

You idiots better hope we win 76-0 next year or you are going to be eating a lot of crow.

Neither fan base is in any position to look down on ANYONE!

 

[9nationalchampionships]

I visited St College many times over the years. I honestly think it is a crap town with nothing to do but crappy bars. Restaurants are terrible and they boast about sticky buns from some bakery in that tiny retail area and ice cream. No wonder there are many with weight issues up there.

Any in touch young person comparing the two schools/areas knows there is no comparison.

 

[dithridge78]

There is a thread over there saying it will be dangerous to go to the game at Heinz field, not the kind of environment to bring a child. No campus etc. blah blah blah...crime ridden, drug infested, gangstas... as James Carville once said...Pennsylvania, to parapharse its basically Pittsburgh and Philly with Alabama in the middle... Probably the view of a very loud minority of branch campus folks whose view of the big city was Atherton and College Ave.

 

[kabmnl]

..over PSU.

There are many reasons why a recruit picks the school they are going to go to.... but it seems the BWI folks think the thing that matters more than all else is how many butts are in the seats. If I were to list the pros and cons of picking Pitt vs PSU, there are many compelling arguments in Pitt's favor.

Practice Facility and Related:

Pitt players practice in a state-of-the-art facility 1 mile from campus alongside the greatest NFL franchise in history. While Pitt players are practicing, often just a few yards away are Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger, Leveon Bell, etc. That's what the Pitt players see at practice everyday. Before and after practice, they might cross paths with them in the lobby, at the cafeteria, etc.

At Penn State, when the player look a few yards away to see what's going on next to them at practice.... they see fields. They see cows. Lots of them. When they go the Lasch building to workout or shower after practice, does some small part of the back of their brain think about the atrocities that happened in the very showers they're standing in? Does that give them the heebie-jeebies?

ADVANTAGE: PITT

Education:

Both Pitt and Penn State are world-class institutions of higher learning. Both are routinely rated in the Top 50 or 75 universities in the world by publications that rate such things. Both have extremely high reputations for academic excellence.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Chance to Compete for Championships:

Pitt plays in the ACC, which has sent a team to the National Title game in two of the past three years, and to the playoffs each of the past three years. Fortunately for Pitt, they are not in the division with either of those two teams. Pitt has a realistic chance to compete for Coastal Division Titles (and therefore, ACC Titles).

PSU plays in the Big Ten, which has a sent a team to the playoffs each of the past two years. Unfortunately for PSU, those two teams reside in the same division as them. There is no realistic chance for PSU to surpass Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan in their division in order to compete for Big Ten Titles anytime soon.

ADVANTAGE: PITT

Chance to Advance to the NFL:

Both Pitt and PSU have put several players into the NFL over the past several years. In Pitt's case, over the past 15 years, they have produced one of the best wideouts and a likely hall-of-famer at WR (Fitzgerald), one of the best RBs in the game today (McCoy), one of the best DBs in history and a likely hall-of-famer (Revis), the current best defensive player in the NFL (Donald). All of those players, each with multiple pro-Bowls and at the very top of their profession, passed through Pitt over the past 15 years.

In addition, Pat Narduzzi has gained a reputation of getting 2- and 3-star recruits, especially DBs, into the NFL as high draft picks.

Penn State has produced lots of NFL talent as well... actually more NFL players, but fewer superstars and potential all-time NFL greats. In Franklin's career at both Vanderbilt and PSU, he has not yet garnered the reputation of "coaching players up" to make them NFL-caliber draft picks.

ADVANTAGE: Slightly to PITT

Social Life and Life Experiences Outside of Football:

Let's face it. As soon as football season is over at PSU, there is not much to do to excite young people on weekends and such. A handful of college bars and a bunch of fraternities that really know how to party. That's about it.

At Pitt... there is ALWAYS something to do. The bar scene on the southside blows away anything that happens out in State College (and this is sometimes a detriment to Pitt football, as we saw during the Walt and Wanny years). Major musical acts come to perform in Pittsburgh that simply don't make stops in State College. There are Bucco games, Pens games, Steeler games, etc. for the sports fan. And in the offseason on campus, there is a basketball team that, more often than not, is relevant. If you're a student at Pitt and you get bored on weekends, that's on you.

As someone who has had a daughter go to both Pitt and PSU, I can tell you that - even though Pitt is closer - my daughter didn't come home on weekends complaining that she was bored. My daughter at PSU came home many weekends because there was simply NOTHING to do at PSU once football season was over.

For players of color, Pitt has a much more diverse student body that might make them feel more comfortable. Other than the sports teams at PSU, the student body and surrounding areas are lilly white. Not that there's inherently anything wrong with that, it is the nature of the demographics. It definitely could cause some recruits to wonder how they'll fit in, however. Culture shock.

As for the girls.... there are plenty of beautiful young ladies at both schools..... but Pitt's student population is nearly 60% female (due in large part to the large Nursing program) and PSU's population is almost 50-50. Not a big difference, but a difference.

ADVANTAGE: PITT

Gameday Experience:

Most Pitt home games the past few years have had 35,000 to 45,000 fans. Never below 35k, and only above 45k for matchups with Notre Dame or FSU. In a 68,000-seat stadium with bright yellow seats... 35,000 looks like 20,000. Admittedly, this is a problem. But as the 2003 season showed, when Pitt averaged 55,000 at Heinz and sold out 3 of the 6 games.... when there's a winner or something special going on, Pitt fans turn out. Narduzzi has generated excitement around the program and ticket sales are going up. Having 15,000 Pitt fans go to Annapolis for the Military Bowl was a big sign that the fan base is getting engaged again after years of upheaval that led to apathy. Next season, Pitt will average over 50k.... and yes, there will be 68,000+ at the PSU game - 20,000 of which will be PSU fans.... but there will be 45-55k at the other games.

PSU has a monster stadium that holds 107,000. Typically, they only have 85-90k at the games unless they are playing Michigan or Ohio State.... but still.... 85K is a huge crowd - and with bleacher-style seating in which the fans can spread out, 85K doesn't show the 20K empties as much. They have a very large student section, because they have 40,000 students on campus. Still, it is an atmosphere that is better than Pitt's currently - and that is something the Nits hang their hat on.

ADVANTAGE: PSU

Coaching Staff:

Narduzzi has shown himself to be a coach that players want to play for. He has also surrounded himself with a group that are relentless and excellent recruiters. James Franklin has also shown a great ability to sell his program to recruits, but the shine is wearing off already. His best assistant left for a lateral position and was replaced by someone who has never been a coordinator before. He has shown himself to be a subpar gameday coach. His handling of 5-star QB Christian Hackenberg has proven to be a huge negative recruiting point that opposing coaches can use against him.

ADVANTAGE: PITT


Summary:

It is very understandable why PSU fans harp on attendance, attendance, attendance, yellow seats, yellow seats, yellow seats. That's because it is really the ONLY advantage they have over Pitt. And they know it. It's why it is all they talk about.

They can't argue that the Big Ten is much better than the ACC. On Field results the past few years show the two conferences to be pretty even.

They can't argue that PSU is a surer path to the NFL than Pitt. That's been demonstrated to be untrue over the past few years.

They can't argue that they have a more stable coaching situation anymore. James Franklin can't hold on to his lieutenants... and according to objective observers outside of both Pitt and PSU, he'll be on the hot seat by the end of next year if he has another 7-win or less season. Narduzzi has stabilized the Pitt coaching situation and if there were betting odds on such things, Narduzzi would be likely to be at Pitt longer than Franklin is at PSU. I'm telling everyone kids today love the " empty yellow seats".

They talk about attendance, because that is all they have. They think it is all that matters to recruits, because it is all that matters to them.

 

[thisguy414]

I visited St College many times over the years. I honestly think it is a crap town with nothing to do but crappy bars. Restaurants are terrible and they boast about sticky buns from some bakery in that tiny retail area and ice cream. No wonder there are many with weight issues up there.

Any in touch young person comparing the two schools/areas knows there is no comparison.

Dude you've never been to state college quit lying. quit putting on this fake front, nobody in State College gives a sh*t about sticky buns, you saw that on TV. no grown man would obsess about bashing a school the way you do. Straight up ur a 17-22 year old who never went to Pitt or PSU or college for that matter, ur literally the most pathetic poster on this board. Of course it's an anonymous board so u'll hind behind ur keyboard and continue to act like you're something that your not and continue to give reasons to try to convince others you know what ur talking about.

I'll tell you what (and a google search won't help you, only if you've ACTUALLY been to state college will you know this) tell me what is unique about the road getting into state college... There's only one direction in from Pittsburgh and surrounding areas and it's quite unique as it is there to control traffic... What is unique about 322 going into state college.... If you've ACTUALLY been to State College, you will know this in a heartbeat but my money is you don't... Like I said, a google search won't help you so let's hear it skippy! prove you aren't a lying fraud!

 

[rojo36]

The game day experience at Penn State is really impressive and the crowd is part of that. For the majority of the kids coming into the program that will not go on to the NFL, it is as close as they will get to performing on a big stage. Another factor is national exposure. Penn State games get more television coverage than Pitt games. Now that can be good or bad depending on how the team performs, but it is an advantage. I was a student at Penn State from 93-97, pretty good glory years for the program and really the last time they were truly relevant on the national scene. I think that Joe Paterno should have retired in the early 2000's. I think that now and I thought that then, but I understand why he stayed and I also understand why he was allowed to stay. State College is a fun town to go to school in. I grew up outside NYC and liked having the small town atmosphere, but it isn't for everyone. Being from NJ, I was never part of the Pitt / Penn State hatred and rivalry. I am not under the delusion that Penn State is back from the sanctions. They did (partially) what they were intended to do and that was damage the program. I can't understand why people think that Penn State should be in the title hunt while recovering from sanctions. I don't know James Franklin, but I am willing to give him a chance to try to rebuild the program. Most Penn State fans are impressed by the way we weathered the sanctions and I think that has them a little greedy in thinking the team should be better than it is. The reality is that Penn State is down right now, for a specific reason and if the local teams cannot capitalize on it now, they never will. So I am not surprised to see other schools moving in on Penn State's recruits. Pay back is a bitch, and Penn State did it to those programs for many years. It will all even out in the end. I am looking forward to the teams competing on the field next year. It should be interesting.

Many big time football programs have terrific game day experiences so that is not unique to Happy Valley. PSU was unique in having one football coach for so many years, with advantages and disadvantages to that. But that time is over and it remains to be seen how the PSU football program will be affected.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

You mean the stupid paw prints on the road to maintain distance?

You are a pathetic loser. Run along junior!

Dude you've never been to state college quit lying. quit putting on this fake front, nobody in State College gives a sh*t about sticky buns, you saw that on TV. no grown man would obsess about bashing a school the way you do. Straight up ur a 17-22 year old who never went to Pitt or PSU or college for that matter, ur literally the most pathetic poster on this board. Of course it's an anonymous board so u'll hind behind ur keyboard and continue to act like you're something that your not and continue to give reasons to try to convince others you know what ur talking about.

I'll tell you what (and a google search won't help you, only if you've ACTUALLY been to state college will you know this) tell me what is unique about the road getting into state college... There's only one direction in from Pittsburgh and surrounding areas and it's quite unique as it is there to control traffic... What is unique about 322 going into state college.... If you've ACTUALLY been to State College, you will know this in a heartbeat but my money is you don't... Like I said, a google search won't help you so let's hear it skippy! prove you aren't a lying fraud!

 

[OmarLittle]

Greene County is below Washington County, but most of Pa thinks it belongs to WV. I live here because land is so cheap, I bought 20 acres with a nice house for $62,000. Unfortunately because land is so cheap, we are about 50 years behind on technology. It doesn't matter if you have a computer, the lines out here are so old that you can't even watch a YouTube video. With the gas boom going on, that is changing. But it will take some time, so for now we have to rely on television unless I move to town.

I take it you don't get a good 4g lte signal yet either? Wanesburg gets pretty solid tmobile service at least where my cuz lives, w/ unlimited data deal they give he just watches that way.

 

[ncyajleel]

Not out in Western Greene, lots of dead spots. Waynesburg the town is pretty good, but there are parts of West Greene where they are still fighting the Civil War. I don't mind it, I bought the land way out in the middle of nowhere for the peace and quiet after getting out of the military. After my time in the army I just wanted to get away.

I take it you don't get a good 4g lte signal yet either? Wanesburg gets pretty solid tmobile service at least where my cuz lives, w/ unlimited data deal they give he just watches that way.

 

[doubleAA's]

Greene County is below Washington County, but most of Pa thinks it belongs to WV. I live here because land is so cheap, I bought 20 acres with a nice house for $62,000. Unfortunately because land is so cheap, we are about 50 years behind on technology. It doesn't matter if you have a computer, the lines out here are so old that you can't even watch a YouTube video. With the gas boom going on, that is changing. But it will take some time, so for now we have to rely on television unless I move to town.

I live far more hick than you bud. Satellite dish. Anyways, if you dont have youtube, you wont be getting state penn games on tv either. But beyond that, if you dont own a computer, and cant do anything then why are you on this site? For espn3 you can use your phone, I do. I watched a pitt game in Israel last year when I was there for work.

 

[doubleAA's]

Not out in Western Greene, lots of dead spots. Waynesburg the town is pretty good, but there are parts of West Greene where they are still fighting the Civil War. I don't mind it, I bought the land way out in the middle of nowhere for the peace and quiet after getting out of the military. After my time in the army I just wanted to get away.

Well sir, then I apologize. I am army as well. But watch espn app is pretty good. If you can get on this website, you can use that.

 

[Delpanther]

Most of them are clueless buffoons who have never been out of central Or eastern, Pa. They're parochial, they're dumb and have very little understanding of the overall college FB landscape. I remember being in Beaver stadium Dan Marino's junior year after Pitt had just kicked their ass and they were flabbergasted- who is this Marino guy, where did he come from- meanwhile he was probably the most highly recruited QB in his class. They are real JA's for certain.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

You idiots better hope we win 76-0 next year or you are going to be eating a lot of crow. Neither fan base is in any position to look down on ANYONE!

Cuts both ways, why it is called RIVALS!
Very Much Banter, but Nobody is poisoning Trees like that Bama Dude to Auburn Oak Trees!

 

[ncyajleel]

Its no big deal. I go to all the home games anyway and listen to the away ones that are not televised on the radio. I tried watching the Akron game last year on my computer and my phone, I had to watch in shifts because it would freeze every few seconds. It was too frustrating watching that way, so I just crank the radio.
But it just seems like every psu and wvu game is on tv. Maybe I'm wrong.

Well sir, then I apologize. I am army as well. But watch espn app is pretty good. If you can get on this website, you can use that.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I visited St College many times over the years. I honestly think it is a crap town with nothing to do but crappy bars. Restaurants are terrible and they boast about sticky buns from some bakery in that tiny retail area and ice cream. No wonder there are many with weight issues up there.

The greasy spoon diner is OK and used as a place to get coffee afterwards a hard night of drinking, for the students and players.

However, The Olde New York Restaurant offers superb German Food right next Giant Grocery Store. Try both when Pitt plays at Beaver Stadium.

 

[wbrpanther]

You idiots better hope we win 76-0 next year or you are going to be eating a lot of crow.

Neither fan base is in any position to look down on ANYONE!

Do you have to keep preaching to the Pitt faithful everytime a comment is made about the Nits. They deserve everything they get and either you know that or you are a closet Nit. Their fans call us every name in the book yet you get offended when they get it back.

 

[drunkinoakland]

Do you have to keep preaching to the Pitt faithful everytime a comment is made about the Nits. They deserve everything they get and either you know that or you are a closet Nit. Their fans call us every name in the book yet you get offended when they get it back.

I'm a Pitt fan, which is why I get embarrassed when we call them out. It makes us look bad. I fully understand they have idiot fans too, but I don't preach to them because I don't care about them.

Honestly, I might avoid the game altogether to avoid watching both sides looking like morons.

 

[doubleAA's]

Its no big deal. I go to all the home games anyway and listen to the away ones that are not televised on the radio. I tried watching the Akron game last year on my computer and my phone, I had to watch in shifts because it would freeze every few seconds. It was too frustrating watching that way, so I just crank the radio.
But it just seems like every psu and wvu game is on tv. Maybe I'm wrong.

yeah, you are wrong, UPS had one more game on than we did last year on 'national tv'. UPS has about national favorability as Governor Christy

 

[doubleAA's]

I'm a Pitt fan, which is why I get embarrassed when we call them out. It makes us look bad. I fully understand they have idiot fans too, but I don't preach to them because I don't care about them.

Honestly, I might avoid the game altogether to avoid watching both sides looking like morons.

For chissakes, its a rivalry game. As long as someone isnt making personal attacks at each other and wishing ill health of opponents who cares.

 

[Nitfan]

..over PSU.

There are many reasons why a recruit picks the school they are going to go to.... but it seems the BWI folks think the thing that matters more than all else is how many butts are in the seats. If I were to list the pros and cons of picking Pitt vs PSU, there are many compelling arguments in Pitt's favor.

Practice Facility and Related:

Pitt players practice in a state-of-the-art facility 1 mile from campus alongside the greatest NFL franchise in history. While Pitt players are practicing, often just a few yards away are Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger, Leveon Bell, etc. That's what the Pitt players see at practice everyday. Before and after practice, they might cross paths with them in the lobby, at the cafeteria, etc.

At Penn State, when the player look a few yards away to see what's going on next to them at practice.... they see fields. They see cows. Lots of them. When they go the Lasch building to workout or shower after practice, does some small part of the back of their brain think about the atrocities that happened in the very showers they're standing in? Does that give them the heebie-jeebies?

ADVANTAGE: PITT

Education:

Both Pitt and Penn State are world-class institutions of higher learning. Both are routinely rated in the Top 50 or 75 universities in the world by publications that rate such things. Both have extremely high reputations for academic excellence.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Chance to Compete for Championships:

Pitt plays in the ACC, which has sent a team to the National Title game in two of the past three years, and to the playoffs each of the past three years. Fortunately for Pitt, they are not in the division with either of those two teams. Pitt has a realistic chance to compete for Coastal Division Titles (and therefore, ACC Titles).

PSU plays in the Big Ten, which has a sent a team to the playoffs each of the past two years. Unfortunately for PSU, those two teams reside in the same division as them. There is no realistic chance for PSU to surpass Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan in their division in order to compete for Big Ten Titles anytime soon.

ADVANTAGE: PITT

Chance to Advance to the NFL:

Both Pitt and PSU have put several players into the NFL over the past several years. In Pitt's case, over the past 15 years, they have produced one of the best wideouts and a likely hall-of-famer at WR (Fitzgerald), one of the best RBs in the game today (McCoy), one of the best DBs in history and a likely hall-of-famer (Revis), the current best defensive player in the NFL (Donald). All of those players, each with multiple pro-Bowls and at the very top of their profession, passed through Pitt over the past 15 years.

In addition, Pat Narduzzi has gained a reputation of getting 2- and 3-star recruits, especially DBs, into the NFL as high draft picks.

Penn State has produced lots of NFL talent as well... actually more NFL players, but fewer superstars and potential all-time NFL greats. In Franklin's career at both Vanderbilt and PSU, he has not yet garnered the reputation of "coaching players up" to make them NFL-caliber draft picks.

ADVANTAGE: Slightly to PITT

Social Life and Life Experiences Outside of Football:

Let's face it. As soon as football season is over at PSU, there is not much to do to excite young people on weekends and such. A handful of college bars and a bunch of fraternities that really know how to party. That's about it.

At Pitt... there is ALWAYS something to do. The bar scene on the southside blows away anything that happens out in State College (and this is sometimes a detriment to Pitt football, as we saw during the Walt and Wanny years). Major musical acts come to perform in Pittsburgh that simply don't make stops in State College. There are Bucco games, Pens games, Steeler games, etc. for the sports fan. And in the offseason on campus, there is a basketball team that, more often than not, is relevant. If you're a student at Pitt and you get bored on weekends, that's on you.

As someone who has had a daughter go to both Pitt and PSU, I can tell you that - even though Pitt is closer - my daughter didn't come home on weekends complaining that she was bored. My daughter at PSU came home many weekends because there was simply NOTHING to do at PSU once football season was over.

For players of color, Pitt has a much more diverse student body that might make them feel more comfortable. Other than the sports teams at PSU, the student body and surrounding areas are lilly white. Not that there's inherently anything wrong with that, it is the nature of the demographics. It definitely could cause some recruits to wonder how they'll fit in, however. Culture shock.

As for the girls.... there are plenty of beautiful young ladies at both schools..... but Pitt's student population is nearly 60% female (due in large part to the large Nursing program) and PSU's population is almost 50-50. Not a big difference, but a difference.

ADVANTAGE: PITT

Gameday Experience:

Most Pitt home games the past few years have had 35,000 to 45,000 fans. Never below 35k, and only above 45k for matchups with Notre Dame or FSU. In a 68,000-seat stadium with bright yellow seats... 35,000 looks like 20,000. Admittedly, this is a problem. But as the 2003 season showed, when Pitt averaged 55,000 at Heinz and sold out 3 of the 6 games.... when there's a winner or something special going on, Pitt fans turn out. Narduzzi has generated excitement around the program and ticket sales are going up. Having 15,000 Pitt fans go to Annapolis for the Military Bowl was a big sign that the fan base is getting engaged again after years of upheaval that led to apathy. Next season, Pitt will average over 50k.... and yes, there will be 68,000+ at the PSU game - 20,000 of which will be PSU fans.... but there will be 45-55k at the other games.

PSU has a monster stadium that holds 107,000. Typically, they only have 85-90k at the games unless they are playing Michigan or Ohio State.... but still.... 85K is a huge crowd - and with bleacher-style seating in which the fans can spread out, 85K doesn't show the 20K empties as much. They have a very large student section, because they have 40,000 students on campus. Still, it is an atmosphere that is better than Pitt's currently - and that is something the Nits hang their hat on.

ADVANTAGE: PSU

Coaching Staff:

Narduzzi has shown himself to be a coach that players want to play for. He has also surrounded himself with a group that are relentless and excellent recruiters. James Franklin has also shown a great ability to sell his program to recruits, but the shine is wearing off already. His best assistant left for a lateral position and was replaced by someone who has never been a coordinator before. He has shown himself to be a subpar gameday coach. His handling of 5-star QB Christian Hackenberg has proven to be a huge negative recruiting point that opposing coaches can use against him.

ADVANTAGE: PITT


Summary:

It is very understandable why PSU fans harp on attendance, attendance, attendance, yellow seats, yellow seats, yellow seats. That's because it is really the ONLY advantage they have over Pitt. And they know it. It's why it is all they talk about.

They can't argue that the Big Ten is much better than the ACC. On Field results the past few years show the two conferences to be pretty even.

They can't argue that PSU is a surer path to the NFL than Pitt. That's been demonstrated to be untrue over the past few years.

They can't argue that they have a more stable coaching situation anymore. James Franklin can't hold on to his lieutenants... and according to objective observers outside of both Pitt and PSU, he'll be on the hot seat by the end of next year if he has another 7-win or less season. Narduzzi has stabilized the Pitt coaching situation and if there were betting odds on such things, Narduzzi would be likely to be at Pitt longer than Franklin is at PSU.

They talk about attendance, because that is all they have. They think it is all that matters to recruits, because it is all that matters to them.

Penn State is ranked in the top 50 large universities in the U,S. Pitt is not!

 

[dithridge78]

Pitt Pays You Back, Says The Princeton Review
Contact:
Joe Miksch


jmiksch@pitt.edu


412-624-4356


Cell: 412-997-0314

PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh is profiled in Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck, published Feb. 2 by The Princeton Review. The book and online resource are guides to the nation’s academically best and most affordable colleges that also have excellent records of alumni employment.

The Princeton Review selected the “best value” schools by measuring 40 weighted data points: everything from academics, cost, financial aid, and student debt to statistics on graduation rates, alumni salaries, and job satisfaction. The company used data collected in 2014-15 from its surveys of administrators and students at 650 colleges, plus surveys conducted by PayScale.com through April 2015 of alumni of the same schools.

The Princeton Review’s profile of Pitt praises the University as an “academic powerhouse” and includes comments from student surveys:

• Pitt is “a big school with all the perks of a small school” and most students “are involved in at least one activity.”

• “Pitt is excellent at helping students find jobs, internships, job shadowing opportunities, and other activities to help solidify a career path.”

• “Pitt is one of the best schools to help students with experiential learning, whether it be through an internship, research experience, or even service learning experience.”

• Many also extol Pittsburgh itself as a hotbed of “career opportunities.”

The 2016 “Colleges That Pay You Back” project is an expansion of The Princeton Review’s annual “Best Value Colleges” list and book first published in 2004. The Princeton Review is an academic tutoring, test preparation, and college admission services company.

###

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Link please. You could tell a nitwit the world is flat and they would believe you.

World Campus ....,haha.

Penn State is ranked in the top 50 large universities in the U,S. Pitt is not!

 

[Nitfan]

Over at BWI, there was a recent thread entitled "When did you know you were going to Penn St?" I haven't read it but I can't help think the answer for so many students these days is "when I didn't get accepted to Pitt". Pitt's admission requirements have become very challenging and having HS aged kids, I know how difficult it has been for many of their classmates to get into Pitt, while being accepted at Penn St.

Now I am not bashing Penn St as a school. It's still a very good place to go. But times have changed compared to the University Of Pittsburgh.

By the way, someone should link this thread over at BWI.

Then why is PSU ranked way higher than Pitt as an academic institution. Top 50

Link please. You could tell a nitwit the world is flat and they would believe you.

World Campus ....,haha.

US News and World Report has PSU 47 and Pitt 66 in the US !

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Link?

Then why is PSU ranked way higher than Pitt as an academic institution. Top 50

US News and World Report has PSU 47 and Pitt 66 in the US !

 

[Piranha]

I'm a Pitt fan, which is why I get embarrassed when we call them out. It makes us look bad. I fully understand they have idiot fans too, but I don't preach to them because I don't care about them.

Honestly, I might avoid the game altogether to avoid watching both sides looking like morons.

Your screen name is Drunk In Oakland.

 

[DSP1976]

Then why is PSU ranked way higher than Pitt as an academic institution. Top 50

US News and World Report has PSU 47 and Pitt 66 in the US !

Have you looked at the criteria for that rating? If you do, you will understand why the same mindset that still worships Paterno comes into play.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

there will be 68,000+ at the PSU game - 20,000 of which will be PSU fans

There have never been 20,000 Penn State fans at a Pitt home game. Not even once. Certain people always talk about how the stadium will be completely overrun by nitters when we play them (and the hoopies when we play them for that matter), and then the day actually comes and there are never anywhere near that many there.

One reason why there won't be that many there this year is that there are almost certainly not going to be any single game ticket sales to the general public. Obviously that won't stop every nitter from getting a ticket from a friend who has Pitt tickets and it won't stop them from buying them from scalpers, both online and the flesh and blood types, but if there weren't 20,000 nitters in the house the last time we played them, when it would have theoretically been easier for them to buy tickets, why would there be that many there this time, when it will be harder for them to get tickets?

 

[UPitt '89]

There have never been 20,000 Penn State fans at a Pitt home game. Not even once. Certain people always talk about how the stadium will be completely overrun by nitters when we play them (and the hoopies when we play them for that matter), and then the day actually comes and there are never anywhere near that many there.

One reason why there won't be that many there this year is that there are almost certainly not going to be any single game ticket sales to the general public. Obviously that won't stop every nitter from getting a ticket from a friend who has Pitt tickets and it won't stop them from buying them from scalpers, both online and the flesh and blood types, but if there weren't 20,000 nitters in the house the last time we played them, when it would have theoretically been easier for them to buy tickets, why would there be that many there this time, when it will be harder for them to get tickets?

I was giving them the benefit of the doubt, basing it on the fact that there will be about 45-50k Pitt season ticket holders this year.

But you're right. Notre Dame only had about 10-12K this year, and my personal expectation is around the same for PSU next season.

But I do remember going to games at Pitt Stadium in the early 90s when there were 25k PSU fans...... But that was the absolute bottom for Pitt football.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

But I do remember going to games at Pitt Stadium in the early 90s when there were 25k PSU fans....

We only played Penn State at home one time in the early 90s. That was in 1991 when we played them on Thanksgiving day in a game that started at 11:00 in the morning. That game was not a sellout, wasn't even particularly close to a sellout, and there were no where near 25,000 Penn State fans there that day. There were probably less Pitt fans and less Penn State fans at that game than at any other home game we've played them since at least the late 60s/early 70s.

 

[UPitt '89]

We only played Penn State at home one time in the early 90s. That was in 1991 when we played them on Thanksgiving day in a game that started at 11:00 in the morning. That game was not a sellout, wasn't even particularly close to a sellout, and there were no where near 25,000 Penn State fans there that day. There were probably less Pitt fans and less Penn State fans at that game than at any other home game we've played them since at least the late 60s/early 70s.

1987 and 1989 it was I was thinking of. The years blur together. What was the game we won 10-0 with the late interception return? Gottfried was the coach. I remember a LOT of PSU fans at that game.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

I know that one late 90's (99?) had alot.

 

[NoiseCoalition]

Here's my question, and I mean it in all seriousness. Why on earth would an African American willingly choose to live in Central Pennsylvania? First of all, there aren't many other minorities living there and it is reportedly a national hub for the KKK?

What kind of an idiot would choose to live in that type of an environment whenever they had other legitimate choices?

Here's a list of a few "idiot" African-American's who braved Centre County's notorious (yet not at all) Klan.

http://www.blackhistory.psu.edu/assets/pdf/PSU_Award_Winning_Black_Alumni_041908.pdf

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I know that one late 90's (99?) had alot.

98. I mean I guess it depends on what you mean by a lot. 10,000? 12,000? Maybe a little more than that? Sure. But no where near 25,000 or even 20,000.

By 1998 Pitt Stadium held around 54,000 people. Pitt had probably 20,000 - 25,000 season ticket holders. There were somewhere around 12,000 tickets set aside for students. So even if all the other tickets in the whole stadium went to nitters you'd still only be at 17,000 to 22,000. And of course some Pitt fans sold their tickets to nitters, but a lot more Pitt fans bought single game tickets than nitters did too (especially since much like this year season ticket holders had the opportunity to buy extras before the sale to the general public). 25,000 nitters in the house would have meant that every single game ticket sold went to a nitter AND several thousand Pitt fans sold their tickets to nitters as well. That's just silly.