Here's the problem with college football.....

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

If Pitt had Virginia's or Kentucky's OOC schedule? Right now we would be 8-1. We would be looking at the Top 10. We would be definitely getting a prime time visit from VT next week. Narduzzi would be getting all kinds of credit.

But the football team wouldn't be any better overall. Well maybe, because with wins comes confidence and swagger.

But that is the line. That is how the Wisconsin's (caught up with them this year) and many others make their marks and get all of these big rankings and bowls.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

If Pitt had Virginia's or Kentucky's OOC schedule? Right now we would be 8-1. We would be looking at the Top 10. We would be definitely getting a prime time visit from VT next week. Narduzzi would be getting all kinds of credit.

But the football team wouldn't be any better overall. Well maybe, because with wins comes confidence and swagger.

But that is the line. That is how the Wisconsin's (caught up with them this year) and many others make their marks and get all of these big rankings and bowls.

And we’d be the same team .

Easy ooc schedules don’t make you better .

And if your team isn’t good- it gets exposed during the season.

Folks here worry way too much about mid season rankings which are meaningless.

 

[DiehardPanther]

If Pitt had Virginia's or Kentucky's OOC schedule? Right now we would be 8-1. We would be looking at the Top 10. We would be definitely getting a prime time visit from VT next week. Narduzzi would be getting all kinds of credit.

But the football team wouldn't be any better overall. Well maybe, because with wins comes confidence and swagger.

But that is the line. That is how the Wisconsin's (caught up with them this year) and many others make their marks and get all of these big rankings and bowls.

Well.....that is the formula that has been laid out. Now we need to schedule properly. Dixon did a masterful job of manipulating the RPI, but unfortunately some Pitt fans were too stupid too realize it at the time.

 

[HailtoPitt]

If Pitt had Virginia's or Kentucky's OOC schedule? Right now we would be 8-1. We would be looking at the Top 10. We would be definitely getting a prime time visit from VT next week. Narduzzi would be getting all kinds of credit.

But the football team wouldn't be any better overall. Well maybe, because with wins comes confidence and swagger.

But that is the line. That is how the Wisconsin's (caught up with them this year) and many others make their marks and get all of these big rankings and bowls.

Is it college football's issue, or Pitt's issue!

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I guess what I am saying, there are an awful lot of frauds in college football masquerading as ranked teams.

 

[DiehardPanther]

I guess what I am saying, there are an awful lot of frauds in college football masquerading as ranked teams.

It is Alabama, and then a severe drop off. Teams 2-15 are very similar. After that it is a hodge podge of teams. We could beat anyone, but Alabama. On the flip side, we could lose to almost any Power 5 school. There is a ton of parity or mediocrity if you prefer that term.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

If Pitt had Virginia's or Kentucky's OOC schedule? Right now we would be 8-1. We would be looking at the Top 10. We would be definitely getting a prime time visit from VT next week. Narduzzi would be getting all kinds of credit.

But the football team wouldn't be any better overall. Well maybe, because with wins comes confidence and swagger.

But that is the line. That is how the Wisconsin's (caught up with them this year) and many others make their marks and get all of these big rankings and bowls.

Which is why Pitt should play 3 guaranteed win games and only 1 P5. Pitt does not need SOS points.

 

[fairgambit]

If Pitt had Virginia's or Kentucky's OOC schedule? Right now we would be 8-1. We would be looking at the Top 10. We would be definitely getting a prime time visit from VT next week. Narduzzi would be getting all kinds of credit.

But the football team wouldn't be any better overall. Well maybe, because with wins comes confidence and swagger.

But that is the line. That is how the Wisconsin's (caught up with them this year) and many others make their marks and get all of these big rankings and bowls.

Scheduling is a crapshoot. Take a team like UCF. I don't know when Pitt scheduled them, but 10 years ago (2008) they were 4-8. Geeze, just 3 years ago they were 0-12 and 2 years ago 6-7. They went from 0-12 to 13-0 (last season) in just 2 years.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

If Pitt had Virginia's or Kentucky's OOC schedule? Right now we would be 8-1. We would be looking at the Top 10. We would be definitely getting a prime time visit from VT next week. Narduzzi would be getting all kinds of credit.

But the football team wouldn't be any better overall. Well maybe, because with wins comes confidence and swagger.

But that is the line. That is how the Wisconsin's (caught up with them this year) and many others make their marks and get all of these big rankings and bowls.

And we’d be the same team .

Easy ooc schedules don’t make you better .

And if your team isn’t good- it gets exposed during the season.

Folks here worry way too much about mid season rankings which are meaningless.

8-1 and ranked #13 next week equals 10K more fans and a palpable buzz. It also excites recruits. And the only difference would have been scheduling 3 terrible teams instead of ND, PSU, and UCF.

 

[fairgambit]

8-1 and ranked #13 next week equals 10K more fans and a palpable buzz. It also excites recruits. And the only difference would have been scheduling 3 terrible teams instead of ND, PSU, and UCF.

ND and PSU in the same year was a mistake, but as I noted above, UCF was terrible just 3 years ago (0-12).

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

8-1 and ranked #13 next week equals 10K more fans and a palpable buzz. It also excites recruits. And the only difference would have been scheduling 3 terrible teams instead of ND, PSU, and UCF.

ND and PSU in the same year was a mistake, but as I noted above, UCF was terrible just 3 years ago (0-12).

You don't play home and home with teams from the American. The year before UCF went 0-12, they won the Fiesta. They have historically been one of the better mid-majors. The only G5's I'd play home and homes with are Temple (due to Philly Pitt fanbase) and maybe FIU/FAU due to Florida recruiting and the Sun Belt is a few notches below the American

 

[UPitt '89]

8-1 and ranked #13 next week equals 10K more fans and a palpable buzz. It also excites recruits. And the only difference would have been scheduling 3 terrible teams instead of ND, PSU, and UCF.

Pitt has no choice in scheduling ND. It is part of the ND rotation with the ACC. We cannot control that game. Just consider it part of a 9-game ACC schedule in the years we play ND.

When Pitt scheduled UCF, UCF was among the dregs of college football. Hell, they went 0-12 just 3 years ago.

So really... our OOC schedule that we control was PSU, UCF, and Albany. And the last two were certified cream puffs at the time of scheduling.

 

[plcp]

Ive advocated an easier ooc because 1. Team needs to get that swagger and 2. With a better record one would think better recruiting. Once we achieve the aforementioned then make the ooc a bit tougher.

 

[fairgambit]

You don't play home and home with teams from the American. The year before UCF went 0-12, they won the Fiesta. They have historically been one of the better mid-majors. The only G5's I'd play home and homes with are Temple (due to Philly Pitt fanbase) and maybe FIU/FAU due to Florida recruiting and the Sun Belt is a few notches below the American

I agree about home and home, but this could be an exception. First of all, the away game is in Florida, a nice trip, and when this game was scheduled, perhaps 10 years ago, this would have likely been considered a winnable game. You can't be playing a lot of teams like Ohio and Delaware (on next year's schedule) when you have trouble filling the seats.

 

[DiehardPanther]

I agree about home and home, but this could be an exception. First of all, the away game is in Florida, a nice trip, and when this game was scheduled, perhaps 10 years ago, this would have likely been considered a winnable game. You can't be playing a lot of teams like Ohio and Delaware (on next year's schedule) when you have trouble filling the seats.

Ranked teams like Oklahoma State don’t move the needle. ND, PS, WV, OSU - those 4 move the needle because they bring a lot of fans. 10+ Win seasons will help move the needle more than scheduling the likes of Iowa, Oklahoma St, Purdue, UCF, Michigan St, etc.

 

[fairgambit]

Ranked teams like Oklahoma State don’t move the needle. ND, PS, WV, OSU - those 4 move the needle because they bring a lot of fans. 10+ Win seasons will help move the needle more than scheduling the likes of Iowa, Oklahoma St, Purdue, UCF, Michigan St, etc.

Agreed.

 

[DiehardPanther]

WVU, YSU, Akron, Rutgers - That should be the nonconference schedule or something similar. 3-1 or 4-0 + 6-2 or 7-1 in conference. That will create excitement and momentum for this program. Downsize Heinz to 50k, and season tickets will be sold out. People will also want to attend because Pittsburgh likes winners and are more likely to attend the game since they paid for the tickets. This will trickle down to improved recruiting as well.

 

[Pitt79]

If Pitt had Virginia's or Kentucky's OOC schedule? Right now we would be 8-1. We would be looking at the Top 10. We would be definitely getting a prime time visit from VT next week. Narduzzi would be getting all kinds of credit.

But the football team wouldn't be any better overall. Well maybe, because with wins comes confidence and swagger.

But that is the line. That is how the Wisconsin's (caught up with them this year) and many others make their marks and get all of these big rankings and bowls.

Then let's get that kind of OOC schedule and we'll all be happier. If they beat Morgan State and Prairie View and where ranked #25 and 7-2, it would feel so much better, I wouldn't care about nonsense like being "deserving".

 

[PittAU]

I'd rather that we did not lose like we did to State Pen & UCF.

The game that will bite us is the ass in the terrible loss at UNC. If not for that we'd be 6-3, 5-0.

 

[rmf05]

I guess what I am saying, there are an awful lot of frauds in college football masquerading as ranked teams.

Thats always been the case. Its on Pitt that we've been too stupid or arrogant to figure out how to play the game.

 

[Pittx9]

Well.....that is the formula that has been laid out. Now we need to schedule properly. Dixon did a masterful job of manipulating the RPI, but unfortunately some Pitt fans were too stupid too realize it at the time.

Football 1 big game OOC game is plenty. Basketball 2 is plenty. No need to beef up your schedule, especially in dixon’s case when he was playing a murderous big east conference schedule.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Is it college football's issue, or Pitt's issue!

college football issue. the B10 & Pac10 requires a 9 game conference schedule while the ACC & SEC is only 8. Why doesn't the NCAA step in and say 9 conference games, at least 1 OOC must be P5, and only 1 FCS allowed every 3 years. Level the playing field.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

8-1 and ranked #13 next week equals 10K more fans and a palpable buzz. It also excites recruits. And the only difference would have been scheduling 3 terrible teams instead of ND, PSU, and UCF.

Wrong.
History has proven that

We don’t have bandwagon fans.
Especially when the stillers are good

 

[OriginalEther]

If Pitt had Virginia's or Kentucky's OOC schedule? Right now we would be 8-1. We would be looking at the Top 10. We would be definitely getting a prime time visit from VT next week. Narduzzi would be getting all kinds of credit.

But the football team wouldn't be any better overall. Well maybe, because with wins comes confidence and swagger.

But that is the line. That is how the Wisconsin's (caught up with them this year) and many others make their marks and get all of these big rankings and bowls.

Or, instead of playing Psu, they go through the motions and still beat Kent st 28-13. Does Pitt still come out of the gates storming the following week against Georgia Tech? Or does Tech get the option churning from the start against a complacent Pitt team and crush them 54-21?

These games aren’t in a vacuum

 

[NCanton Panther]

WVU, YSU, Akron, Rutgers - That should be the nonconference schedule or something similar. 3-1 or 4-0 + 6-2 or 7-1 in conference. That will create excitement and momentum for this program. Downsize Heinz to 50k, and season tickets will be sold out. People will also want to attend because Pittsburgh likes winners and are more likely to attend the game since they paid for the tickets. This will trickle down to improved recruiting as well.

Are you trying to be funny?? Claiming we’d be 3-1 or 4-0 with an OOC schedule of WVU, YSU, Akron and Rutgers. No need to say anything about WVU and any certainty of a win there. But when you use 2 teams that we’ve lost to both within the last 5 years, that’s not making your case. Heck, one of them we not only lost to but needed OT to get by them in another game.

We have to have some of the wimpiest fans out there constantly complaining about how tough our schedule is and yearning for those 3 or 4 guaranteed wins.

 

[OriginalEther]

I’ll also add that Kentucky isn’t ranked because of their ooc. Heck they’ve been doing that for years, and usually still having a crappy team and season. They’re ranked where they are because they beat Florida and a ranked Mississippi State team, and actually weren’t destroyed by Texas A&M

Beating good teams - or at least teams with a name - is what has gotten teams like Kentucky, Virginia, and Syracuse ranked. Not squeaking by soup cans

 

[OriginalEther]

Ranked teams like Oklahoma State don’t move the needle. ND, PS, WV, OSU - those 4 move the needle because they bring a lot of fans. 10+ Win seasons will help move the needle more than scheduling the likes of Iowa, Oklahoma St, Purdue, UCF, Michigan St, etc.

Why is the other team bringing lots of fans and reducing our home field advantage a good thing?
I’d rather see a yellow Heinz seat than Osu scarlet
An opposing fan takeover is far, far more humiliating
An no, a 10 win season that is viewed as fraudulent won’t move the needle either

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Why is the other team bringing lots of fans and reducing our home field advantage a good thing?
I’d rather see a yellow Heinz seat than Osu scarlet
An opposing fan takeover is far, far more humiliating
An no, a 10 win season that is viewed as fraudulent won’t move the needle either

no one has ever viewed a 10 win season as fraudulent. No one will look at the schedule at the end of the year.

 

[OriginalEther]

no one has ever viewed a 10 win season as fraudulent. No one will look at the schedule at the end of the year.

I certainly have. At least with other teams

And I have no doubt a 10-3 record with four cupcakes, the conference as questionable as it has been this year, but still losses to Virginia Tech and Miami and the bowl game would be viewed that way

And for the record, I really don’t care what the schedule is. I just don’t think scheduling four pushovers is the sudden cure-all for Pitt football

Edit: this board has certainly given Wisconsin that treatment lately

 

[joeydavid]

Wrong.
History has proven that

We don’t have bandwagon fans.
Especially when the stillers are good

That's simply wrong. When Pitt has a buzz more fans show up. 2003, 2008, 2009, etc

 

[McKee Place]

You guys are cute in thinking the Pitt AD spends any significant time or thought in scheduling.

But i think opening a few more threads on it will finally get their attention.

Just like with a stadium. Or playing Paris Ford.

 

[PittSqueak]

Pitt hasn't been a consistently good team in 35 years; we need to win games to get buzz & quit with this "have a great OOC schedule" nonsense that hurt us every year as we watch the B10 do the opposite and reap the benefits.

Schedule PSU each year if we can. Beyond that, all other games should be set up for us to win, which helps us have a good record, which helps us have fan buzz, which helps us get ranked, which helps with recruiting. Stop playing all these other ranked OOC opponents who cause us to have *this* exact conversation each year ("If we played the schedule so-and-so had, we'd be ranked, so the system needs to change.")

 

[McKee Place]

Pitt hasn't been a consistently good team in 35 years; we need to win games to get buzz & quit with this "have a great OOC schedule" nonsense that hurt us every year as we watch the B10 do the opposite and reap the benefits.

Schedule PSU each year if we can. Beyond that, all other games should be set up for us to win, which helps us have a good record, which helps us have fan buzz, which helps us get ranked, which helps with recruiting. Stop playing all these other ranked OOC opponents who cause us to have *this* exact conversation each year ("If we played the schedule so-and-so had, we'd be ranked, so the system needs to change.")

The wrong people are having the conversation. The AD needs to hear it... and give a squat about it. Our ADs don't. They're just filling spots as quickly easily and cheaply as possible