Gabel thinks like SMF?

[Sean Miller Fan]

I think I have been the only one critical of Lyke on this board. Football has the lowest talent level since Majors 2 and men's basketball, despite it looking like Capel has turned the corner still isnt winning at a level which pleases everybody. I do like Capel and think he has the program in the right spot going forward. This season should be his best team.

I dont think football or basketball success had as much to do with this decision as the decision to build Victory Heights. I have said over and over that that was a terrible decision. TERRIBLE. And to make things worse, the university had to debt finance most of it. Imagine Gabel's surprise when she took a look at the university's financial record and she sees a large quarterly bond interest expense being paid for an arena for teams who already have an arena. And yea, I know, the Field House is a dump at this point but the 3 sports dont make money. Money matters and Pitt never has enough. Volleyball has shown they dont need a new arena to compete. Maybe they would have lost Fisher if they didnt build the arena, but really, so what. Its nice to have a great volleyball program but most Pitt fans dont go to their games or watch them on TV. Its nice that they are good but its not needed.

Pitt has 2 pro sports. I am sorry but this is what it is. And these arent even "minor league" as some people say. These are major revenue producers....almost NHL-level in terms of revenue. College football is the #2 sport in America. College basketball is #5 ahead of NHL and MLS. Pitt needs these programs to keep most if its money instead of redistributing to pay for Olympic Sports. There's just not enough to go around or to be wasted on a volleyball arena. I also wonder if the fact it was built in really the only place a football stadium could go futher irked her. The Pete is 22 years old. College arenas have a long shelf life but if we had the money, we could have knocked it down and wedged in a 45K seat football stadium and new 9K seat basketball arena there.

I think being late to the NIL game and Pitt's lack of emphasis on fundraising played a part but I think she deserved to be cut some slack here. I dont think a lot of people envisioned NIL to just be pay for play. All of the schools, Pitt included are committing major NCAA violations but the NCAA isnt enforcing anything.

All this said, I wouldn't have fired her. I was hoping she got the NW job or another job. But maybe the financials on the volleyball arena are just that bad. Also, the timing of this is terrible. You dont do it right after the best comeback in years. And not during Brawl Week. It could have waited.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

She got Gabeled? Maybe
I get more of the same ole Pitt instability mired in mediocrity 5 yr plan forever vibe.

 

[TD_6082]

I think I have been the only one critical of Lyke on this board. Football has the lowest talent level since Majors 2 and men's basketball, despite it looking like Capel has turned the corner still isnt winning at a level which pleases everybody. I do like Capel and think he has the program in the right spot going forward. This season should be his best team.

I dont think football or basketball success had as much to do with this decision as the decision to build Victory Heights. I have said over and over that that was a terrible decision. TERRIBLE. And to make things worse, the university had to debt finance most of it. Imagine Gabel's surprise when she took a look at the university's financial record and she sees a large quarterly bond interest expense being paid for an arena for teams who already have an arena. And yea, I know, the Field House is a dump at this point but the 3 sports dont make money. Money matters and Pitt never has enough. Volleyball has shown they dont need a new arena to compete. Maybe they would have lost Fisher if they didnt build the arena, but really, so what. Its nice to have a great volleyball program but most Pitt fans dont go to their games or watch them on TV. Its nice that they are good but its not needed.

Pitt has 2 pro sports. I am sorry but this is what it is. And these arent even "minor league" so some people say. These are major revenue producers....almost NHL-level in terms of revenue. Pitt needs these programs to keep most if its money instead of redistributing to pay for Olympic Sports. There's just not enough to go around or to be wasted on a volleyball arena. I also wonder if the fact it was built in really the only place a football stadium could go futher irked her. The Pete is 22 years old. College arenas have a long shelf life but if we had the money, we could have knocked it down and wedged in a 45K seat football stadium and new 9K seat basketball arena there.

I think being late to the NIL game and Pitt's lack of emphasis on fundraising played a part but I think she deserved to be cut some slack here. I dont think a lot of people envisioned NIL to just be pay for play. All of the schools, Pitt included are committing major NCAA violations but the NCAA isnt enforcing anything.

All this said, I wouldn't have fired her. I was hoping she got the NW job or another job. But maybe the financials on the volleyball arena are just that bad. Also, the timing of this is terrible. You dont do it right after the best comeback in years. And not during Brawl Week. It could have waited.

I think everybody knew NIL was basically going to be paying for play.

It's not the 1990s. The media can't hide the cess pool that is college athletics.

 

[Las Panteras]

I think I have been the only one critical of Lyke on this board. Football has the lowest talent level since Majors 2 and men's basketball, despite it looking like Capel has turned the corner still isnt winning at a level which pleases everybody. I do like Capel and think he has the program in the right spot going forward. This season should be his best team.

I dont think football or basketball success had as much to do with this decision as the decision to build Victory Heights. I have said over and over that that was a terrible decision. TERRIBLE. And to make things worse, the university had to debt finance most of it. Imagine Gabel's surprise when she took a look at the university's financial record and she sees a large quarterly bond interest expense being paid for an arena for teams who already have an arena. And yea, I know, the Field House is a dump at this point but the 3 sports dont make money. Money matters and Pitt never has enough. Volleyball has shown they dont need a new arena to compete. Maybe they would have lost Fisher if they didnt build the arena, but really, so what. Its nice to have a great volleyball program but most Pitt fans dont go to their games or watch them on TV. Its nice that they are good but its not needed.

Pitt has 2 pro sports. I am sorry but this is what it is. And these arent even "minor league" so some people say. These are major revenue producers....almost NHL-level in terms of revenue. Pitt needs these programs to keep most if its money instead of redistributing to pay for Olympic Sports. There's just not enough to go around or to be wasted on a volleyball arena. I also wonder if the fact it was built in really the only place a football stadium could go futher irked her. The Pete is 22 years old. College arenas have a long shelf life but if we had the money, we could have knocked it down and wedged in a 45K seat football stadium and new 9K seat basketball arena there.

I think being late to the NIL game and Pitt's lack of emphasis on fundraising played a part but I think she deserved to be cut some slack here. I dont think a lot of people envisioned NIL to just be pay for play. All of the schools, Pitt included are committing major NCAA violations but the NCAA isnt enforcing anything.

All this said, I wouldn't have fired her. I was hoping she got the NW job or another job. But maybe the financials on the volleyball arena are just that bad. Also, the timing of this is terrible. You dont do it right after the best comeback in years. And not during Brawl Week. It could have waited.

an excellent post. However, it is too soon to determine if Gabel thinks like you (stop with the first person, bro)


we do have some facts to work with. 1) Her contract was up and not yet extended. 2) She was looking around. 3) Gabel decided it was time to part ways. After these facts, I dont think we have any road to travel down and be sure.

So the speculation and hopes / fears will continue.

I will say this. I will get excited (perhaps excited enough to give to NIL) if I hear the new hire is someone no one has ever heard of......that came from say, the M & A division of Goldman Sachs or a higher up in a private equity firm.....rather than an AD from Central Arkansas, or an Asst AD from say, Purdue.

One tells me we are going into NIL big time.....the other tells me our new chancellor is the second coming of J Dennis O Connor

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

an excellent post. However, it is too soon to determine if Gabel thinks like you (stop with the first person, bro)


we do have some facts to work with. 1) Her contract was up and not yet extended. 2) She was looking around. 3) Gabel decided it was time to part ways. After these facts, I dont think we have any road to travel down and be sure.

So the speculation and hopes / fears will continue.

I will say this. I will get excited (perhaps excited enough to give to NIL) if I hear the new hire is someone no one has ever heard of......that came from say, the M & A division of Goldman Sachs or a higher up in a private equity firm.....rather than an AD from Central Arkansas, or an Asst AD from say, Purdue.

One tells me we are going into NIL big time.....the other tells me our new chancellor is the second coming of J Dennis O Connor

Agree. Business backgrounds over athletic backgrounds are becoming more popular in college sports. That's a train I'd like to see us board.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I think everybody knew NIL was basically going to be paying for play.

It's not the 1990s. The media can't hide the cess pool that is college athletics.

I dont think she and more people than you think thought you would be able to blatantly break the most sacred of NCAA rules and the NCAA look the other way. 99% of these deals are NCAA violations and Heather didn't want to risk that I suppose.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

an excellent post. However, it is too soon to determine if Gabel thinks like you (stop with the first person, bro)


we do have some facts to work with. 1) Her contract was up and not yet extended. 2) She was looking around. 3) Gabel decided it was time to part ways. After these facts, I dont think we have any road to travel down and be sure.

So the speculation and hopes / fears will continue.

I will say this. I will get excited (perhaps excited enough to give to NIL) if I hear the new hire is someone no one has ever heard of......that came from say, the M & A division of Goldman Sachs or a higher up in a private equity firm.....rather than an AD from Central Arkansas, or an Asst AD from say, Purdue.

One tells me we are going into NIL big time.....the other tells me our new chancellor is the second coming of J Dennis O Connor

A P4 AD has to be 2 things:

1. An NIL fundraiser
2. A manager of football and basketball

The next AD can hire an Associate AD to run the Olympic Sports. I dont even want the new AD knowing the softball or lacrosse coach's name. Heck, maybe even cut the lacrosse program. Is that expense needed?

The next AD can hire someone to run the day. They need to be out raising NIL funds. And get rid of the Panther Club while they are at it. Every dollar from fans and alums needs to go to pay the players.

 

[PITTstorm]

I think I have been the only one critical of Lyke on this board. Football has the lowest talent level since Majors 2 and men's basketball, despite it looking like Capel has turned the corner still isnt winning at a level which pleases everybody. I do like Capel and think he has the program in the right spot going forward. This season should be his best team.

I dont think football or basketball success had as much to do with this decision as the decision to build Victory Heights. I have said over and over that that was a terrible decision. TERRIBLE. And to make things worse, the university had to debt finance most of it. Imagine Gabel's surprise when she took a look at the university's financial record and she sees a large quarterly bond interest expense being paid for an arena for teams who already have an arena. And yea, I know, the Field House is a dump at this point but the 3 sports dont make money. Money matters and Pitt never has enough. Volleyball has shown they dont need a new arena to compete. Maybe they would have lost Fisher if they didnt build the arena, but really, so what. Its nice to have a great volleyball program but most Pitt fans dont go to their games or watch them on TV. Its nice that they are good but its not needed.

Pitt has 2 pro sports. I am sorry but this is what it is. And these arent even "minor league" as some people say. These are major revenue producers....almost NHL-level in terms of revenue. College football is the #2 sport in America. College basketball is #5 ahead of NHL and MLS. Pitt needs these programs to keep most if its money instead of redistributing to pay for Olympic Sports. There's just not enough to go around or to be wasted on a volleyball arena. I also wonder if the fact it was built in really the only place a football stadium could go futher irked her. The Pete is 22 years old. College arenas have a long shelf life but if we had the money, we could have knocked it down and wedged in a 45K seat football stadium and new 9K seat basketball arena there.

I think being late to the NIL game and Pitt's lack of emphasis on fundraising played a part but I think she deserved to be cut some slack here. I dont think a lot of people envisioned NIL to just be pay for play. All of the schools, Pitt included are committing major NCAA violations but the NCAA isnt enforcing anything.

All this said, I wouldn't have fired her. I was hoping she got the NW job or another job. But maybe the financials on the volleyball arena are just that bad. Also, the timing of this is terrible. You dont do it right after the best comeback in years. And not during Brawl Week. It could have waited.

Oh my goodness! Not during “Brawl Week.”

Listen, Junior - the BEST managers fix problems immediately, before they become bigger problems. Timing is irrelevant.

Even after the best comeback in years.
Even during “Brawl Week.”

 

[Purdue_Panther]

I think I have been the only one critical of Lyke on this board. Football has the lowest talent level since Majors 2 and men's basketball, despite it looking like Capel has turned the corner still isnt winning at a level which pleases everybody. I do like Capel and think he has the program in the right spot going forward. This season should be his best team.

I dont think football or basketball success had as much to do with this decision as the decision to build Victory Heights. I have said over and over that that was a terrible decision. TERRIBLE. And to make things worse, the university had to debt finance most of it. Imagine Gabel's surprise when she took a look at the university's financial record and she sees a large quarterly bond interest expense being paid for an arena for teams who already have an arena. And yea, I know, the Field House is a dump at this point but the 3 sports dont make money. Money matters and Pitt never has enough. Volleyball has shown they dont need a new arena to compete. Maybe they would have lost Fisher if they didnt build the arena, but really, so what. Its nice to have a great volleyball program but most Pitt fans dont go to their games or watch them on TV. Its nice that they are good but its not needed.

Pitt has 2 pro sports. I am sorry but this is what it is. And these arent even "minor league" as some people say. These are major revenue producers....almost NHL-level in terms of revenue. College football is the #2 sport in America. College basketball is #5 ahead of NHL and MLS. Pitt needs these programs to keep most if its money instead of redistributing to pay for Olympic Sports. There's just not enough to go around or to be wasted on a volleyball arena. I also wonder if the fact it was built in really the only place a football stadium could go futher irked her. The Pete is 22 years old. College arenas have a long shelf life but if we had the money, we could have knocked it down and wedged in a 45K seat football stadium and new 9K seat basketball arena there.

I think being late to the NIL game and Pitt's lack of emphasis on fundraising played a part but I think she deserved to be cut some slack here. I dont think a lot of people envisioned NIL to just be pay for play. All of the schools, Pitt included are committing major NCAA violations but the NCAA isnt enforcing anything.

All this said, I wouldn't have fired her. I was hoping she got the NW job or another job. But maybe the financials on the volleyball arena are just that bad. Also, the timing of this is terrible. You dont do it right after the best comeback in years. And not during Brawl Week. It could have waited.

Pitt can never and will never again compete in football since we too small a fan base and the idiots like you and gabel will sacrifice the programs we can have and are winning at to continue to be a football program that can’t compete.

Worst chancellor of lifetime firing the best athletic director is the most Pitting event ever.

 

[RoguePanther]

Agree on the timing. Shows the administration is tone deaf. Just what we need is a distraction during Brawl week. I swear upper management everywhere are just a bunch of doofuses. Competence is rare.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Pitt can never and will never again compete in football since we too small a fan base and the idiots like you and gabel will sacrifice the programs we can have and are winning at to continue to be a football program that can’t compete.

Worst chancellor of lifetime firing the best athletic director is the most Pitting event ever.

You have to at least try in football. Northwestern is building a new stadium for visiting fans to attend their games. Vandy is making major upgrades. Duke took the track out of their stadium and made major upgrades a few years ago. Stanford built a new stadium about 20 years ago. Why are those schools trying? They could have invested that money in the bio department.

 

[pittdan77]

I dont think she and more people than you think thought you would be able to blatantly break the most sacred of NCAA rules and the NCAA look the other way. 99% of these deals are NCAA violations and Heather didn't want to risk that I suppose.

You're just naïve. That wasn't her issue and I seriously doubt that's what is behind this firing. Maybe that's where the lip service gets paid but the donors aren't there.

 

[Purdue_Panther]

You have to at least try in football. Northwestern is building a new stadium for visiting fans to attend their games. Vandy is making major upgrades. Duke took the track out of their stadium and made major upgrades a few years ago. Stanford built a new stadium about 20 years ago. Why are those schools trying? They could have invested that money in the bio department.

Pitt was once a great football program. In the current climate I don’t see value sacrificing real chances to win national championships in Olympic sports where Pitt can compete to chase delusions in football.

Play where you can win and just do enough elsewhere. Pitt can be a 6-8 win football team with good coaching hires. Pitt will never be a! Sec or top tier b10 program again-no local talent, a small fan base and all the other negatives Pitt can’t change.

As a Pitt fan who enjoys football I would like that not to be true but I love watching Pitt soccer volleyball and other sports excel and I would never support sacrificing them for maybe a win a year in football.

 

[Las Panteras]

Pitt can never and will never again compete in football since we too small a fan base and the idiots like you and gabel will sacrifice the programs we can have and are winning at to continue to be a football program that can’t compete.

Worst chancellor of lifetime firing the best athletic director is the most Pitting event ever.

Ok.....

A take as valid as any at thIs point i suppose. Given this post as the standard, I can hear the conversation now.....

HL " i HAVE SIGNIFICANT INTEREST FROM BETTER POSITIONED DEEPER POCKETED SCHOOLS THAN PITT. YOU WILL PAY ME MORE OR I WILL WALK"

GABEL, " WELL HEATHER, OUR FAN BASE SAYS OTHERWISE. PURDUE PANTHER FOR EXAMPLE, SAYS WE WILL SUCK AT FOOTBALL WHETHER WE EXTEND YOU OR NOT......SO SINCE ITS HOPELESS, TAKE YOUR BLONDE ASS AND OLD FIRST BASEMENS MITT AND KEEP WALKING"

All due respect, man....I would peg the odds of your thoughts in line with Gabel"s at roughly a bazillion to one.....

 

[TD_6082]

You're just naïve. That wasn't her issue and I seriously doubt that's what is behind this firing. Maybe that's where the lip service gets paid but the donors aren't there.

Correct.

It's a program issue. Perhaps Heather didn't fully embrace or maximize the potential at Pitt, whatever that may be, but if the movers and shakers at Pitt wanted a strong NIL game, it's not like anything was holding them back.

Is it possible Pitt thinks they can mine corporate funds?

 

[Fk_Pitt]

You have to at least try in football. Northwestern is building a new stadium for visiting fans to attend their games. Vandy is making major upgrades. Duke took the track out of their stadium and made major upgrades a few years ago. Stanford built a new stadium about 20 years ago. Why are those schools trying? They could have invested that money in the bio department.

Try? They aren’t dropping a stadium in Oakland. It’s not reasonable.

I don’t know who can succeed here other than hiring the son/daughter of a billionaire to replace Heather because the donation pool isn’t there and there’s nothing for anyone to tap into. Then said billionaire will donate into the NIL fund. So if they don’t have a David Tepper-esque heir lined up, then letting Heather go was moot and ill-advised.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Try? They aren’t dropping a stadium in Oakland. It’s not reasonable.

I don’t know who can succeed here other than hiring the son/daughter of a billionaire to replace Heather because the donation pool isn’t there and there’s nothing for anyone to tap into. Then said billionaire will donate into the NIL fund. So if they don’t have a David Tepper-esque heir lined up, then letting Heather go was moot and ill-advised.

Maybe it was my post that we have a billionaire alum in Jessica Pegula that nobody knew about

Pitt cant have NIL and the Panther Club. I said that from the beginning.

 

[NCPitt]

You have to at least try in football. Northwestern is building a new stadium for visiting fans to attend their games. Vandy is making major upgrades. Duke took the track out of their stadium and made major upgrades a few years ago. Stanford built a new stadium about 20 years ago. Why are those schools trying? They could have invested that money in the bio department.

What else can Pitt do in the football program to make you believe they are "trying"?

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Maybe it was my post that we have a billionaire alum in Jessica Pegula that nobody knew about

Pitt cant have NIL and the Panther Club. I said that from the beginning.

I just keep hearing “Heather wasn’t on board with NIL”. I find that difficult to believe. Even a moron knows that we need to step out NIL game up.

The problem is Heather is being held to a standard that we are simply incapable of measuring up to.

I suppose Gabel has to try by replacing Heather who has shown she couldn’t get it done in the NIL world. And now she will bring in her own person, who also won’t get it done.

 

[pittdan77]

Is it possible Pitt thinks they can mine corporate funds?

Maybe but then you're stepping on the research side of things. It's tricky because every dollar you pull into NIL is a dollar the University doesn't get. It is quite possible that fundraising could be better but it's not like every football scholarship is funded so I don't think there are a lot of places to go look where people are excited to donate beyond what you're already seeing. I also think it would be a mistake to try to be something you're not. It's an arms race you can't win.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I just keep hearing “Heather wasn’t on board with NIL”. I find that difficult to believe. Even a moron knows that we need to step out NIL game up.

The problem is Heather is being held to a standard that we are simply incapable of measuring up to.

I suppose Gabel has to try by replacing Heather who has shown she couldn’t get it done in the NIL world. And now she will bring in her own person, who also won’t get it done.

Yea, I'm not buying NIL played much into this. Peak said the athletic department was in bad shape finally and the new arena has to play a huge part in that. I don't think they would feed the media the line that its arena-related because you dont want any stink put on the project. So they tell them our finances are bad, wink wink. Why are they bad? We are building a Volleyball Taj Mahal.

 

[Las Panteras]

I dont think she and more people than you think thought you would be able to blatantly break the most sacred of NCAA rules and the NCAA look the other way. 99% of these deals are NCAA violations and Heather didn't want to risk that I suppose.

Pitt should reach out to Tepper, asking for guidance on finding a killer rainmaker from Wall Street.

With Tepper involved, i would surmise he would want his referral to succeed.

Its a start.

 

[NCPitt]

Yea, I'm not buying NIL played much into this. Peak said the athletic department was in bad shape finally and the new arena has to play a huge part in that. I don't think they would feed the media the line that its arena-related because you dont want any stink put on the project. So they tell them our finances are bad, wink wink. Why are they bad? We are building a Volleyball Taj Mahal.

I hope that you realize that Lyke was not the final approval on the capital projects.

 

[snaphook297]

Does she refer to herself in the third person like the iconic smf

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Pitt should reach out to Tepper, asking for guidance on finding a killer rainmaker from Wall Street.

With Tepper involved, i would surmise he would want his referral to succeed.

Its a start.

Tepper would be my first call. I'd also consult with Mark Cuban. I'd ask them what they would look for in someone who comes and asks them for money.

 

[snaphook297]

Tepper would be my first call. I'd also consult with Mark Cuban. I'd ask them what they would look for in someone who comes and asks them for money.

Tepper doesn’t give a flying eff about Pitt.