Said it was a surprise to him how negative and pitt fans are. Always looking for the negative and are debbie downers. Specifically called out the schifino commitment and how that should be exciting but all he has heard is how the kid won't be here in 2 years. This stemmed off of a question of him being dukes coach when coach k retires.
Capel on the fan
- Thread starter ThePanthers
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Are you being serious? Did Capel really say that?
That’s an absolutely ridiculous statement for public consumption. Pitt’s PR/Director of Athletics needs to have a discussion if so. Even if it’s true (which I have zero idea), a coach doesn’t need to confirm it.
That’s an absolutely ridiculous statement for public consumption. Pitt’s PR/Director of Athletics needs to have a discussion if so. Even if it’s true (which I have zero idea), a coach doesn’t need to confirm it.
Capel is good with the media and I appreciate his frankness.
Didnt hear him this morning, but I listened to him on his radio show last night. At the end of the show he talked about the contract extension he just signed. He said it was very important and meaningful to him because of the mutual commitment and loyalty it represented on BOTH sides.
There are certain folks - inside and outside the media locally - who always seem to focus on 2 things regarding Pitt coaches:
When will they be FIRED (if it's perceived by the critics that the HC is not producing and performing well enough)
- OR -
When will they LEAVE (if it's perceived by the critics that the HC is producing or performing well enough)
Just something that goes with the territory w/r/t Pitt. So stuff like this is not really anything new.
You have to have the right people in the right jobs. People who are competent, self-confident and comfortable in their own skin. At the present time, it looks to me like Pitt DOES have the right people in the right jobs (AD & HC's) in the athletic dept.
Good people don't run or hide from challenges. They confront them and overcome them. Pitt is coming off a recent period in hoops where the wrong people were in charge. They're working very hard right now to correct things.
This is an insightful post. After 20 years in exile I still follow Pitt and this board. And I still try to watch every Pitt hoops game I can. But I never read posts any more except DTs and those of a couple others. I limit my time on this board for the exact reason posted here. Negativity among the fans.
Even in the days when we were routinely listed in the AP 10 and had high perennial seeding for the NCAAs there was tons of negativity. People were bashing the coach, bashing the players, etc. I remember saying several times to my wife that "If Dixon is smart - and he is - he will sooner or later look for another job." Why? Because of Pitt's negative fans. Nothing short of next year's Super Bowl will ever please them.
Jeff Capel is a breath of fresh air. He can make Pitt everything the team was 12-15 years ago - and more. But he will leave too. Not for the big money - he can get that at Pitt - or for the prestigious allure of Coaching a "Blue Blood" program like Duke. Unless the fans show him and his Panthers some love, he will never feel welcome.
There are a lot of Pitt "fans" who simply don't deserve a good team or coach. And they'll ruin it for the rest of us.
completely get all of that and agree with you. The worst is having a Jim Tressel type coach in terms of being forthright and giving legit and meaningful info to media. Would rather have a guy like Capel in that regard. Just wonder if that is something that needs to be said. In truth, Pittsburgh pro sports fan (of which I am of all 3 sports) is one of the worst in terms of being “Debbie Downer”. Pens fan is a little less compared to Steelers and, obviously, Pirates fan.
Just stop. Dixon has very thin skin. So did Stallings. If you let a few idiots affect you, then YOU’RE not right for the job anymore.
So there you go. The prevalent attitude of the "fan base" (pro and college) has always been somewhat "fatalistic" in this part of the country. Just how it is. Doesn't change anything. The people in charge and their attitudes and convictions are the ones that matter. Not the "Debbie Downers".
I can't disagree, he nailed this fan base to the tee. I can admit that sometimes I do fall in this pessimistic category sometimes.
No, he just phrased it as "this kid won't come here." I don't even know if he was specifically referring to Hood-Schifino - it was a really broad, general comment.
Maybe we’re a pessimistic bunch, but with good reason. In both major sports, we’ve seen the programs slip from their peak and, given the current state of collegiate athletics, were behind the 8 ball to sustain success at the highest level.
I do believe basketball is our best shot at a winner, but even that is an uphill climb. Personally, seeing Pitt finally breakout in the 00’s only to get knocked back down a rung or two due to realignment and coaching miscues was positively infuriating. The chase for money, not just here but all around college athletics, really set us back at a time when we easily could’ve sustained a high level of success in football and basketball in the old Big East. We have a right to be upset/frustrated.
I like Capel but, candid or not, these comments can do more harm than good. You never win a battle by calling out fans, even when they/we deserve it. This isn’t Duke. We’re not a spoiled bunch that is acting irrationally about a dip in performance. Positivity will be a by product of sustained performance and trust. At this point, we’ve earned our right to be skeptical
I do believe basketball is our best shot at a winner, but even that is an uphill climb. Personally, seeing Pitt finally breakout in the 00’s only to get knocked back down a rung or two due to realignment and coaching miscues was positively infuriating. The chase for money, not just here but all around college athletics, really set us back at a time when we easily could’ve sustained a high level of success in football and basketball in the old Big East. We have a right to be upset/frustrated.
I like Capel but, candid or not, these comments can do more harm than good. You never win a battle by calling out fans, even when they/we deserve it. This isn’t Duke. We’re not a spoiled bunch that is acting irrationally about a dip in performance. Positivity will be a by product of sustained performance and trust. At this point, we’ve earned our right to be skeptical
In basketball we had a long run of sustained performance and wanted to run out our coach.
We ran out wanny while he was on an uphill swing and want to push out narduzzi, 2 guys that seem to want to stick with pitt and help them succeed, but because it didn't happen by year 3 or some preconceived time period the fans want, we stop supporting and go all negative.
Again. In true college towns, the fans step up support in times of diversity. Pitt fans do the opposite. That is why it is always surprising to people on the outside.
Pitt fans are some of the most negative and I know I can be one of them. However, I am realistic and I think the vast majority of Pitt fans are. The majority didn't want Jamie to leave even if we were negative about the direction of the program. I think the great falsehood is that Pitt fans suck because they are negative. No, they have high standards. That doesn't mean we want you out if you dont make the tournament every year and the Sweet 16 every so often, we'll just stop coming to games and post negative stuff on the message board if you dont.
I think you have to understand Pitt fans to coach here. Its a mix of land grand campus town passion and pro sports town negative nancies.
I think you have to understand Pitt fans to coach here. Its a mix of land grand campus town passion and pro sports town negative nancies.
Calling out fans? No. He's calling out CERTAIN "fans". Certain media members, too, indirectly. The ones that should be called out. The people to whom this applies to, know who they are. So do the ones who know it doesn't apply to them.
To be fair to the fans most of us have been through 30+ years of horrible administrative decisions concerning Pitt athletics. We have been conditioned to Pitt Happens when something awful happens.
Like someone on the other board said, and I paraphrase, every time I get to feeling optimistic the football program kicks me in the nuts.
Like someone on the other board said, and I paraphrase, every time I get to feeling optimistic the football program kicks me in the nuts.
Give me a break. Huggins as well as other coaches have called out fans as well.
He's not wrong but I wish he had framed it a little bit differently.
Instead of "we have debbie downer fans always looking for the negative" I probably would just keep it to "we expect a culture of winning, we're building a culture of winning, and the results are and will continue to speak for themselves."
It's probably a little too nit-picky on my part. I'd just rather address the issue all swagged out without giving life to the cause.
Instead of "we have debbie downer fans always looking for the negative" I probably would just keep it to "we expect a culture of winning, we're building a culture of winning, and the results are and will continue to speak for themselves."
It's probably a little too nit-picky on my part. I'd just rather address the issue all swagged out without giving life to the cause.
Maybe Capel is just starting to feel comfortable here now, and is willing to speak his mind.
Boeheim does it all the time.
Boeheim does it all the time.
We can only hope that he feels comfortable here, and will be the HC for a long time. The train is back on the track, and moving in the right direction. It doesn’t take much to detail our train.
Is it really that big of a deal that some don’t fully accept that a commitment of a sophomore - a 16 year old kid - will remain committed? Especially one ranked that high who is likely to get a full court press from the big boys if he is that good?
I was and remain happy he committed. But I think it’s more that most people understand there’s a long way to go. Even with all of his family’s social media posts a lot can change.
I was and remain happy he committed. But I think it’s more that most people understand there’s a long way to go. Even with all of his family’s social media posts a lot can change.
Diehard Pitt fans are not debbie downers but Pittsburghers are no doubt. The things you hear Pittsburghers complain about are crazy.
While Capel is right about Pitt fans.... it isn't like Pitt fans haven't had their reasons for feeling this way.
Johnny Majors had success, and he left at the height of his success.... right after a national championship.
Jackie Sherrill had success, and he left at the height of his success.... right after three straight 11-1 seasons and Top 5 rankings.
Ben Howland had success, and he left at the height of his success.... right after winning the Big East tournament and going to two straight Sweet 16s.
If Capel doesn't understand where Pitt fans are coming from.... he needs to learn the history a little. When your best coaches leave you right after reaching the height of their success, why shouldn't Pitt fans feel a little knot in their stomach?
Johnny Majors had success, and he left at the height of his success.... right after a national championship.
Jackie Sherrill had success, and he left at the height of his success.... right after three straight 11-1 seasons and Top 5 rankings.
Ben Howland had success, and he left at the height of his success.... right after winning the Big East tournament and going to two straight Sweet 16s.
If Capel doesn't understand where Pitt fans are coming from.... he needs to learn the history a little. When your best coaches leave you right after reaching the height of their success, why shouldn't Pitt fans feel a little knot in their stomach?
Sorry but Capel is SPOT ON with the majority of Pitt fans. same goes for football. Yeah, football has been a mess for far longer, but whenever something positive happens people go "yeah but...x,y,z".
It's a psychological defense mechanism to lessen the disappointment of people who make the team(s) they are fans of the #1 source of self worth--or nearly so-- in their lives. They will be bitterly disappointed anytime their team isn't #1 and winning it all every year.
Just stop. There is no reason to be skeptical of Jeff Capel and the current administration. None.
Thoughts after listening to it:
- He was asked about people thinking he would leave for Duke so the extension doesnt matter. Its important to know the question they were asked before the soundbite. He basically said Pitt fans/Pittsburgh fans can be Debbie Downers in that they are waiting for something bad to happen even if something good happens. That's true and I don't have a problem saying that. I do think maybe he needs to understand the psychology of Pitt fans a little better. We are different. Its like we have PTSD. The positive takeaway is I'm not sure there is any basketball program which has a more passionate fanbase in relation to historical success.
With the reference he made to the JHS commitment, I again just think he has to understand how Pitt fans have that scorned feeling with these early commitments. Pryor, Pope, Rowan, heck even Mustapha Heron committed after his sophomore year. Khem Birch almost backed out and then transferred after 9 games. Throw in Dante Taylor and even highly rated Isaiah Epps not living up to expectations. I am not sure Pitt has ever signed a kid who committed prior to their junior year so there's skepticism. Pitt basketball fans have been through some unique times.
- He was asked about people thinking he would leave for Duke so the extension doesnt matter. Its important to know the question they were asked before the soundbite. He basically said Pitt fans/Pittsburgh fans can be Debbie Downers in that they are waiting for something bad to happen even if something good happens. That's true and I don't have a problem saying that. I do think maybe he needs to understand the psychology of Pitt fans a little better. We are different. Its like we have PTSD. The positive takeaway is I'm not sure there is any basketball program which has a more passionate fanbase in relation to historical success.
With the reference he made to the JHS commitment, I again just think he has to understand how Pitt fans have that scorned feeling with these early commitments. Pryor, Pope, Rowan, heck even Mustapha Heron committed after his sophomore year. Khem Birch almost backed out and then transferred after 9 games. Throw in Dante Taylor and even highly rated Isaiah Epps not living up to expectations. I am not sure Pitt has ever signed a kid who committed prior to their junior year so there's skepticism. Pitt basketball fans have been through some unique times.
There are several posts in this thread alluding to reasons why even the best Pitt fans today may at times be cautious in their optimism of Pitt sports ...... understanding our history and Pittsburgh's sport history (college and pro) is important in that regard.
I really like Coach Capel and think he has done a good job in the year and a half that he has been at Pitt ...... hopefully the program will continue to improve and he will be here long term ..... I also appreciate him being honest in expressing his thoughts about the fans (to me it is informative) ....... on the other hand, he should understand that in the second year of the Stallings era, the basketball program temporarily lost probably 90+% of it's fans and 99+% of fans were negative about a Coach that didn't fit and an AD (Barnes) who made some terrible choices ....... the program was at rock bottom and so was the fan base ...... fast forward a year and a half and you will see that a significant number of fans are coming back and I believe the overall negativity, although still admittedly too much, is significantly less then the universal negativity during the Stalling's years.
Just as Coach Capel has said that the basketball program is a major rebuild which will take time, so it will also take time to rebuild and re-energize the fan base toward the basketball program (winning helps) ....... both the basketball program and the positivity of the fan base are going in the right direction, neither as fast as we would like so we need to be patient and support the team and coaches as best we can.
A message to Coach Capel about the basketball program and it's fans ..... IMO "if you build it, we will come" ! ...... keep up the good work Coach !
I really like Coach Capel and think he has done a good job in the year and a half that he has been at Pitt ...... hopefully the program will continue to improve and he will be here long term ..... I also appreciate him being honest in expressing his thoughts about the fans (to me it is informative) ....... on the other hand, he should understand that in the second year of the Stallings era, the basketball program temporarily lost probably 90+% of it's fans and 99+% of fans were negative about a Coach that didn't fit and an AD (Barnes) who made some terrible choices ....... the program was at rock bottom and so was the fan base ...... fast forward a year and a half and you will see that a significant number of fans are coming back and I believe the overall negativity, although still admittedly too much, is significantly less then the universal negativity during the Stalling's years.
Just as Coach Capel has said that the basketball program is a major rebuild which will take time, so it will also take time to rebuild and re-energize the fan base toward the basketball program (winning helps) ....... both the basketball program and the positivity of the fan base are going in the right direction, neither as fast as we would like so we need to be patient and support the team and coaches as best we can.
A message to Coach Capel about the basketball program and it's fans ..... IMO "if you build it, we will come" ! ...... keep up the good work Coach !
