I think this is how things go down with the discussion with Capel

[eng78]

Let's be real as to the situation with Capel. We're all disappointed, frustrated and want changes but as I read the situation here is what I think happens.

We know Capel is going to walk into the AD's office at the end of the year and express his disappointment with the team's performance. That things need to change and that he agrees that the results need to be better.

However, he will also say that if it wasn't for Dunn getting injured and re-injured the results would have been different. I'm not sure if this is true or not but he can show that the team was playing better earlier in the year and it did coincide with Dunn getting hurt. He can also say that Dunn did try to come back but was never 100%. He was our best 3 point defender and our best 3 point shooter before getting hurt and that was a major weakness that was just too significant to overcome. He was forced to play freshman, our opponents were able to focus on Lowe and Leggett and they got worn down. Also, our big men didn't develop they way we needed (and he agrees that's on him and his staff) but he'll have the off season to address this.

Also, he can say that I was the ACC coach of the year in 2023, we got screwed last year and should of been in the tournament and has shown the ability to "rebuild" the roster to compete next year. His focus will be keep the roster in tact by explaining to Lowe that he needs to stay one more year to address his issues before going pro, moving Lowe to the 2 and have Cummings at the 1, keeping the Diaz twins, I think Cohren and Kante stay, trying to keep Delalic (but I think we lose him) and then keeping Witherspoon committed. Will go to the portal for a 3 point shooter, big men, etc...

When Greene hears this along with the fact that the finances in College sport are fluid right now, the large buyout for Capel and the fact that a new coach doesn't guarantee anything.... what would you recommend to Chancellor Gabel ? I think it means that he gets at least one more year as long as he acknowledges the issues and a plan to address them. However, he will hear that next year is important to this program and that that the University will be forced to make changes if the results aren't significantly better.

I would be shocked if we make a change and don't think I can blame Greene or Gabel at this point.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

Comes down to money. If Pitt has enough, and seems pretty clear they don’t, he’d be gone quickly. But extremely unlikely they can buy him out.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Let's be real as to the situation with Capel. We're all disappointed, frustrated and want changes but as I read the situation here is what I think happens.

We know Capel is going to walk into the AD's office at the end of the year and express his disappointment with the team's performance. That things need to change and that he agrees that the results need to be better.

However, he will also say that if it wasn't for Dunn getting injured and re-injured the results would have been different. I'm not sure if this is true or not but he can show that the team was playing better earlier in the year and it did coincide with Dunn getting hurt. He can also say that Dunn did try to come back but was never 100%. He was our best 3 point defender and our best 3 point shooter before getting hurt and that was a major weakness that was just too significant to overcome. He was forced to play freshman, our opponents were able to focus on Lowe and Leggett and they got worn down. Also, our big men didn't develop they way we needed (and he agrees that's on him and his staff) but he'll have the off season to address this.

Also, he can say that I was the ACC coach of the year in 2023, we got screwed last year and should of been in the tournament and has shown the ability to "rebuild" the roster to compete next year. His focus will be keep the roster in tact by explaining to Lowe that he needs to stay one more year to address his issues before going pro, moving Lowe to the 2 and have Cummings at the 1, keeping the Diaz twins, I think Cohren and Kante stay, trying to keep Delalic (but I think we lose him) and then keeping Witherspoon committed. Will go to the portal for a 3 point shooter, big men, etc...

When Greene hears this along with the fact that the finances in College sport are fluid right now, the large buyout for Capel and the fact that a new coach doesn't guarantee anything.... what would you recommend to Chancellor Gabel ? I think it means that he gets at least one more year as long as he acknowledges the issues and a plan to address them. However, he will hear that next year is important to this program and that that the University will be forced to make changes if the results aren't significantly better.

I would be shocked if we make a change and don't think I can blame Greene or Gabel at this point.

Capel is going to be the coach next year. However, Greene should try to sell him on giving up $2 million in salary to use on NIL. Greene has no leverage as Capel can simply say no and keep all his money and take the buyout next March. But Greene could possibly work something out with him that if he directs $2 million of his salary to NIL, he will guarantee him the 2026-27 season no matter what.

For $2 million, we can get a good PG and a good Big. Then hopefully Cummings improves and you have a Big 3 good enough to make the NCAAT.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

Jeff will do what he does best: make excuses.

 

[Pittnerski]

Jeff will do what he does best: make excuses.

he’s so arrogant I can’t stand it.

 

[maxwell#1]

If I'm AD I can sympathize with the excuses, injuries etc. but that's on him completely since he assembled the team. I would say that this year is in no shape or form acceptable. Changes will be made. I would demand at least 3 coaches replaced if not all of them. Two, limit NIL money, he had more than an adequate budget this year and he did nothing with it. Provide less money this year and if he wants he can always supplement that with part of his salary. Make the NCAA and you get that amount back. Three I want my team to represent the university without being an embarrassment, that would include on court optics tuck in shirts don't act like a jackass showing your belly, act like you belong.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

I have a very low tolerance for people who make excuses like Capel does. When I was in the corporate world, I fired people for that reason alone. That should tell you what I'd do with Capel.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

If I'm AD I can sympathize with the excuses, injuries etc. but that's on him completely since he assembled the team. I would say that this year is in no shape or form acceptable. Changes will be made. I would demand at least 3 coaches replaced if not all of them. Two, limit NIL money, he had more than an adequate budget this year and he did nothing with it. Provide less money this year and if he wants he can always supplement that with part of his salary. Make the NCAA and you get that amount back. Three I want my team to represent the university without being an embarrassment, that would include on court optics tuck in shirts don't act like a jackass showing your belly, act like you belong.

I dont think changing assistant coaches matter. This isn't football. The HC does most of the coaching and the assistants are "helpers." In football, head coaches don't do much coaching in practice and just oversee everything.

The best idea is the NIL part. Tell him no NIL and he has to use his own salary to pay the players. He doesn't have to do that but make it clear that the only way he gets 2026-27 is if he gets to the NCAAT or he agrees to use $2 million of his salary to pay the players.

 

[TD_6082]

I dont think changing assistant coaches matter. This isn't football. The HC does most of the coaching and the assistants are "helpers." In football, head coaches don't do much coaching in practice and just oversee everything.

The best idea is the NIL part. Tell him no NIL and he has to use his own salary to pay the players. He doesn't have to do that but make it clear that the only way he gets 2026-27 is if he gets to the NCAAT or he agrees to use $2 million of his salary to pay the players.

Coaches can't pay players or pay part of NIL. I'm sure there are ways around that, but its still a no no.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Coaches cannot let me say this again they cannot give money to their NIL collective .

Pitts is not buying out JC or PN , they don’t have the money .

So in your fantasy world they fire them then what , no successful coach is coming here without the NIL flush with cash .

Saying that no one’s stepping up to fund the NIL with these current coaches and would if they had hire someone else I hasn’t paid attention to Pitt athletics ability to raise funds .

Pitts best bet is to try and get the big boosters they have to fund the NIL . Donations to Pitt is tax deductible funding the NIL isn’t .

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Coaches cannot let me say this again they cannot give money to their NIL collective .

Pitts is not buying out JC or PN , they don’t have the money .

So in your fantasy world they fire them then what , no successful coach is coming here without the NIL flush with cash .

Saying that no one’s stepping up to fund the NIL with these current coaches and would if they had hire someone else I hasn’t paid attention to Pitt athletics ability to raise funds .

Pitts best bet is to try and get the big boosters they have to fund the NIL . Donations to Pitt is tax deductible funding the NIL isn’t .

We have an Athletic Director's fund established, which is going to allocate money where it needs to go (A412, athletic dept, or to the new pay for play model that is imminent). So the coach can absolutely help pay the players, at least in a roundabout way, and a few have already elected to do so.

 

[BobbyMoPittFan]

I dont think changing assistant coaches matter. This isn't football. The HC does most of the coaching and the assistants are "helpers." In football, head coaches don't do much coaching in practice and just oversee everything.

The best idea is the NIL part. Tell him no NIL and he has to use his own salary to pay the players. He doesn't have to do that but make it clear that the only way he gets 2026-27 is if he gets to the NCAAT or he agrees to use $2 million of his salary to pay the players.

Obviously a lower level, but RMU got all new assistants this season and look what happened there. Sometimes it helps to have a different perspective.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Capel would be a fool to settle for even a dollar less than what he is owed. He'll never see this type of salary again. So, unfortunately, I think we have a few rough seasons ahead.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Coaches can't pay players or pay part of NIL. I'm sure there are ways around that, but its still a no no.

Is this a serious post or are you being sarcastic. You can do whatever you want. If Capel posted a video of himself going to the bank, withdrawing hundreds of thousands of dollars and driving right over to a recruits hotel and handing it to them, we would get a wrist slap. And there are 100 ways to make it less obvious

 

[OhioPanther99]

Capel is going to be the coach next year. However, Greene should try to sell him on giving up $2 million in salary to use on NIL. Greene has no leverage as Capel can simply say no and keep all his money and take the buyout next March. But Greene could possibly work something out with him that if he directs $2 million of his salary to NIL, he will guarantee him the 2026-27 season no matter what.

For $2 million, we can get a good PG and a good Big. Then hopefully Cummings improves and you have a Big 3 good enough to make the NCAAT.

Cummings has a long road to be considered part of a big 3. He's way behind what Lowe was last year.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

Cummings has a long road to be considered part of a big 3. He's way behind what Lowe was last year.

This is true. Cummings isn't close to what Lowe was last year. He has some potential, but probably not as a starter. And this year, Lowe has been a disappointment. I was so high on him last year, but this year he has regressed. And his on ball defense is terrible.

 

[Protes]

This is true. Cummings isn't close to what Lowe was last year. He has some potential, but probably not as a starter. And this year, Lowe has been a disappointment. I was so high on him last year, but this year he has regressed. And his on ball defense is terrible.

I know it's easy to jump on Lowe for things, but he really benefitted from having Bub and Blake around last year. Bub handled the ball quite a lot allowing Lowe to play off the ball. I think Capel made a strategic mistake leaning on Jaland the way he has this year. It's proven to be too much. He's a good player but not good enough to be the focal point of the offense. We needed more of a team effort this year. The coach wasn't up to the task w/r/t making that happen.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I know it's easy to jump on Lowe for things, but he really benefitted from having Bub and Blake around last year. Bub handled the ball quite a lot allowing Lowe to play off the ball. I think Capel made a strategic mistake leaning on Jaland the way he has this year. It's proven to be too much. He's a good player but not good enough to be the focal point of the offense. We needed more of a team effort this year. The coach wasn't up to the task w/r/t making that happen.

Really one of the worst coaching jobs in Pitt history. Some teams have been bad due to talent. This team had good enough players to do well in a terrible league.

- Lowe needed moved off the ball. I probably would have tried Cummings at PG.

- Corhen should never play. The kid refuses to rebound. Should have been GDG and Kante at the 5.

- Delalic should have been in the rotation

- Jorge Diaz Graham should have been in the rotation. Shooting 51% from 3. He, Delalic, and Cummings can't defend but no one can.

- needed to stop playing help defense. It left way too many open shooters.

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

If I'm AD I can sympathize with the excuses, injuries etc. but that's on him completely since he assembled the team. I would say that this year is in no shape or form acceptable. Changes will be made. I would demand at least 3 coaches replaced if not all of them. Two, limit NIL money, he had more than an adequate budget this year and he did nothing with it. Provide less money this year and if he wants he can always supplement that with part of his salary. Make the NCAA and you get that amount back. Three I want my team to represent the university without being an embarrassment, that would include on court optics tuck in shirts don't act like a jackass showing your belly, act like you belong.

I will also rebut to Jeff that this is your 7th year and 1 NCAA appearance and you have the exact same coaching staff of when you started. It is time to change at least 50% of your staff.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

The Pitt athletic department is going to lose so much money next year that it's hard to imagine anything is going to change that costs even a dime. In addition to the start of the $20 million NIL settlement, there will be reduced shared TV revenue of something around $7 million for Pitt thanks to the ACC sell out to Clemson and FSU. And Victory Heights looms unfunded. A debacle.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

The Pitt athletic department is going to lose so much money next year that it's hard to imagine anything is going to change that costs even a dime. In addition to the start of the $20 million NIL settlement, there will be reduced shared TV revenue of something around $7 million for Pitt thanks to the ACC sell out to Clemson and FSU. And Victory Heights looms unfunded. A debacle.

They should sell the volleyball arena to UPMC. They can turn it into a hospital.

0 chance Capel gets fired due to this. But I don't know what you wanted the ACC to do. Clemson and FSU were either going to leave now or leave later. You bought stability until 2030 in which time they will leave but you should be in a position to either add B12 teams or merge with them since their contract is up them.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

The Pitt athletic department is going to lose so much money next year that it's hard to imagine anything is going to change that costs even a dime. In addition to the start of the $20 million NIL settlement, there will be reduced shared TV revenue of something around $7 million for Pitt thanks to the ACC sell out to Clemson and FSU. And Victory Heights looms unfunded. A debacle.

Yeah, I'm not sure how it's possible for the math to work out, to be honest. Like, I assume the general fund is going to have to pick up the tab when it comes to Victory Heights and the NIL settlement/new salary cap model (together, like $44M/year). I'm not exactly sure what is allowable, though.

Again, I don't know if people fully appreciate how unbelievably incompetent Heather Lyke was. On top of Victory Heights being a worse expenditure than handing over your life savings to Bernie Madoff, we have two bad coaches in the only sports that matter and they're both being paid top 27 salaries.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

Yeah, I'm not sure how it's possible for the math to work out, to be honest. Like, I assume the general fund is going to have to pick up the tab when it comes to Victory Heights and the NIL settlement/new salary cap model (together, like $44M/year). I'm not exactly sure what is allowable, though.

Again, I don't know if people fully appreciate how unbelievably incompetent Heather Lyke was. On top of Victory Heights being a worse expenditure than handing over your life savings to Bernie Madoff, we have two bad coaches in the only sports that matter and they're both being paid top 27 salaries.

Rougher time ahead for Pitt, both financially and with performance of the 2 major sports teams and programs. Neither major program has the coaching necessary to be successful and fans just aren't attending as needed to be profitable.

I keep thinking back about how some Pitt fans complained about dilapidated Pitt Stadium being ripped down to make room for The Pete. Victory Heights is 100 times worse. The Pete at least is for a major sport and for other events and concerts. Victory Heights is an extreme waste of money.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Rougher time ahead for Pitt, both financially and with performance of the 2 major sports teams and programs. Neither major program has the coaching necessary to be successful and fans just aren't attending as needed to be profitable.

I keep thinking back about how some Pitt fans complained about dilapidated Pitt Stadium being ripped down to make room for The Pete. Victory Heights is 100 times worse. The Pete at least is for a major sport and for other events and concerts. Victory Heights is an extreme waste of money.

Yeah, Victory Heights is almost beyond comprehension. Like, you don't get to buy your way into volleyball supremacy when you're broke. That's the weirdest luxury an AD (and whomever else signed off on it) has possibly ever treated themselves to.

 

[pittchagg]

The Pitt athletic department is going to lose so much money next year that it's hard to imagine anything is going to change that costs even a dime. In addition to the start of the $20 million NIL settlement, there will be reduced shared TV revenue of something around $7 million for Pitt thanks to the ACC sell out to Clemson and FSU. And Victory Heights looms unfunded. A debacle.

I don’t think Pitt will be getting $7M less TV money than they were before under the settlement.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

Yeah, Victory Heights is almost beyond comprehension. Like, you don't get to buy your way into volleyball supremacy when you're broke. That's the weirdest luxury an AD (and whomever else signed off on it) has possibly ever treated themselves to.

A much better use of that property would have been for an academic building...maybe some labs for the Engineering Dept., or some classrooms. At least it would be consistent with the mission of Pitt as a university.

 

[Islanderpanther]

Let's be real as to the situation with Capel. We're all disappointed, frustrated and want changes but as I read the situation here is what I think happens.

We know Capel is going to walk into the AD's office at the end of the year and express his disappointment with the team's performance. That things need to change and that he agrees that the results need to be better.

However, he will also say that if it wasn't for Dunn getting injured and re-injured the results would have been different. I'm not sure if this is true or not but he can show that the team was playing better earlier in the year and it did coincide with Dunn getting hurt. He can also say that Dunn did try to come back but was never 100%. He was our best 3 point defender and our best 3 point shooter before getting hurt and that was a major weakness that was just too significant to overcome. He was forced to play freshman, our opponents were able to focus on Lowe and Leggett and they got worn down. Also, our big men didn't develop they way we needed (and he agrees that's on him and his staff) but he'll have the off season to address this.

Also, he can say that I was the ACC coach of the year in 2023, we got screwed last year and should of been in the tournament and has shown the ability to "rebuild" the roster to compete next year. His focus will be keep the roster in tact by explaining to Lowe that he needs to stay one more year to address his issues before going pro, moving Lowe to the 2 and have Cummings at the 1, keeping the Diaz twins, I think Cohren and Kante stay, trying to keep Delalic (but I think we lose him) and then keeping Witherspoon committed. Will go to the portal for a 3 point shooter, big men, etc...

When Greene hears this along with the fact that the finances in College sport are fluid right now, the large buyout for Capel and the fact that a new coach doesn't guarantee anything.... what would you recommend to Chancellor Gabel ? I think it means that he gets at least one more year as long as he acknowledges the issues and a plan to address them. However, he will hear that next year is important to this program and that that the University will be forced to make changes if the results aren't significantly better.

I would be shocked if we make a change and don't think I can blame Greene or Gabel at this point.

I think he gets one more year but not because Greene is gullible enough to accept the Dunne excuse. Lyke was a dunce who knew nothing about BB which is why Capel received the extension he did. Here’s hoping that we now have an AD who is smart enough to evaluate the performance of the men’s’. major sport HCs.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Yeah, Victory Heights is almost beyond comprehension. Like, you don't get to buy your way into volleyball supremacy when you're broke. That's the weirdest luxury an AD (and whomever else signed off on it) has possibly ever treated themselves to.

There was a guy on here who was against Victory Heights all along.

 

[Parkview57]

Lyke was a dunce who knew nothing......

She was a Queen among the "Kumbaya Crowd" hence the "Athletic Director of the Year" award....it reminded me somewhat of the two years Pitt had the "Offensive Genius" running the BB program...

 

[gary2]

I know it's easy to jump on Lowe for things, but he really benefitted from having Bub and Blake around last year. Bub handled the ball quite a lot allowing Lowe to play off the ball. I think Capel made a strategic mistake leaning on Jaland the way he has this year. It's proven to be too much. He's a good player but not good enough to be the focal point of the offense. We needed more of a team effort this year. The coach wasn't up to the task w/r/t making that happen.

Absolutely. That and eventually playing Lowe, Leggett and Dunn all at the same time were the two strategic decisions that doomed the season.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

Anyone going to the game tonight?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

A much better use of that property would have been for an academic building...maybe some labs for the Engineering Dept., or some classrooms. At least it would be consistent with the mission of Pitt as a university.

I honestly think they should sell it to UPMC or perhaps another chain hotel. What a waste of money.

Pitt is almost going to have to sell a portion of their future revenues for a 1 time cash infusion from private equity due to the perfect storm of:

- volleyball arena fundings
- Capel and Duzz buyouts in 2025-26
- House settlement to former athletes
- $20 million/year to current athletes
- paying FSU/Clem $5 million-$10 million per year to wait until 2030 to leave

 

[9782978]

It will go down in the accounting department, which Heather never used, obviously. Numbers will be crunched to figure out when it will be more costly to keep JC and/or PN than to buy either one out. Simple as that. Cold, hard numbers.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

I don’t think Pitt will be getting $7M less TV money than they were before under the settlement.

I saw that as the average estimated haircut for the net losers. Maybe we'll do a little better than that but I can't imagine that much?

 

[HailToPitt1985]

There was actually a decent crowd there last night, sans the Zoo. They're on spring break so few showed up. But I was happy that the place was filled similarly to recent games, maybe 6,000 or 7,000. And the game was entertaining for a change.

 

[Islanderpanther]

She was a Queen among the "Kumbaya Crowd" hence the "Athletic Director of the Year" award....it reminded me somewhat of the two years Pitt had the "Offensive Genius" running the BB program...

She nominated herself for that award! She should be awarded: “AD Dunce of the Decade”. If she gets another AD gig at a major university, I will be shocked.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

There was actually a decent crowd there last night, sans the Zoo. They're on spring break so few showed up. But I was happy that the place was filled similarly to recent games, maybe 6,000 or 7,000. And the game was entertaining for a change.

The announced number in the box score was 7,884. However on the way home on the post game show Billy gave the attendance and said 5 thousand-something. So the question is, did Billy just read the number wrong, or did Billy accidentally read the actual gate number rather than the tickets distributed number?

Yeah, you're right, probably the first one.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

There was actually a decent crowd there last night, sans the Zoo. They're on spring break so few showed up. But I was happy that the place was filled similarly to recent games, maybe 6,000 or 7,000. And the game was entertaining for a change.

I couldn't go and sold my tickets and was very surprised that I got a decent price. Weekend games have some demand. The demand is 0 for weeknights. I literally bought weeknight ACC tickets for $1 and $2 as extras to my season tickets.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

The announced number in the box score was 7,884. However on the way home on the post game show Billy gave the attendance and said 5 thousand-something. So the question is, did Billy just read the number wrong, or did Billy accidentally read the actual gate number rather than the tickets distributed number?

Yeah, you're right, probably the first one.

There were more than 5,000 there. It was a decent crowd considering Pitt's recent gameplay.

 

[9782978]

She nominated herself for that award! She should be awarded: “AD Dunce of the Decade”. If she gets another AD gig at a major university, I will be shocked.

She had some enabler rubber stampers at Pitt that allowed her to give lifetime contracts to people that nobody else was trying to hire.