My "don't let the door hit you on the way out" to Pederson

[Saboteur]

There is nothing I can do about it, but SP is the Christmas fruit cake that keeps reappearing after you threw the darn thing out.
I have season tickets but I did not look at the schedule until today....we open at home and then have 3 straight road games!!!
What in Sam Hill was SP doing? Why play any home games?
Geez Steve.....was your last contract so bad that you had to deep six our schedule?
We have more than a month between our 1st and 2nd home games.

 

[OriginalEther]

I'm sure Pederson from beyond the grave told the ACC to give Pitt it's by week in September, play the final OOC game (Notre Dame) in November, and open ACC play on the road (at Virginia Tech).

The main target for frustration would be the road game at Akron, but frankly, that should be like a home game for Pitt fans, being as it's only about an hour away.

 

[rc79]

You really don't need to reach to the guy's scheduling. For the most part, it was OK. I would like to see an approach that ditches H/H with MAC teams going forward.

Overall he was a leadership disaster but people need to stop blaming him for starting times as well. I still hear that one.

Good luck Steve on your job search. Hopefully, you will need to relocate.

Just as a note, the majority of ACC teams get only one bye, and in the first month, because the football calendar is one less week this year. We haven't been picked on.

 

[Saboteur]

You really don't need to reach to the guy's scheduling. For the most part, it was OK. I would like to see an approach that ditches H/H with MAC teams going forward.

Overall he was a leadership disaster but people need to stop blaming him for starting times as well. I still hear that one.

Good luck Steve on your job search. Hopefully, you will need to relocate.

Just as a note, the majority of ACC teams get only one bye, and in the first month, because the football calendar is one less week this year. We haven't been picked on.

You guys make good points and I'm not part of the conspiracy group, and admittedly it is a shot at a guy who can't defend himself. But in a season with with so few games....well, the schedule reflects the overall quality of his tenure....below average.
I'll let it go now.

 

[raleighpanther]

The bigger issue is having only 6 home games. Big time programs have 7-8 home games a year to maximize revenue. To get to 8, you have to play a lot of cupcakes (see Penn State). To play quality opponents, you have to do home and away agreements.
But why the hell did we agree to play at Akron? You'd think even they would've wanted to travel to Pittsburgh for the game. Nicer venue and more seating.

 

[benchwarmer04]

akron has a new on campus stadium. lets start the discussion there. nice 1 1/2 drive-pitt fans should rock that place.enjoy.

 

[OakParkPanther]

akron has a new on campus stadium. lets start the discussion there. nice 1 1/2 drive-pitt fans should rock that place.enjoy.

Ugh. Another "Toledo" in the making. Is it a night game? On ESPN? The biggest game in recent Akron history?

 

[OriginalEther]

But why the hell did we agree to play at Akron? You'd think even they would've wanted to travel to Pittsburgh for the game. Nicer venue and more seating.

Generally, only the largest schools are able to pay the MAC teams the money (often over $1 million) to not play some sort of return game. Most schools end up playing a game at the MAC team's stadium.
The difference is that most of these are 2 for 1's, not 1 and 1's.
I don't know the exact finances of such deals, but Pitt's lack of revenue obviously is in play here.

Akron has a new on campus stadium. 1 1/2 hour drive. Pitt fans should rock that place.enjoy.

Agreed. I also think it's proximity comes into play here (as did Buffalo). This would be a worse deal if we were talking about Northern Illinois or New Mexico.

Ugh. Another "Toledo" in the making. Is it a night game? On ESPN? The biggest game in recent Akron history?

Time TBD. Probably won't be the same scenario given last year's game.

 

[OriginalEther]

For those wondering, I looked into MAC scheduling.

The following schools play at MAC teams this year:
Pitt
Oklahoma State (@Central Michigan), looks like part of a 2 for 1
Iowa State (@Toledo) looks like part of a 2 for 1
Michigan State (@ Western Michigan)

Missouri had a 1 and 1 with Toledo recently

With future schedules it appears the following matchups start or conclude 1 and 1 deals:
Akron v. Iowa State
Boston College v. Northern Illinois
Vandy v. Northern Illinois
Utah v. Northern Illinois
Miami (FL) v, Toledo
Maryland v. Northern Illinois
Kansas v. Ohio
(there was a lot more of these than I thought)

The following 2 for 1's on are the docket
Maryland v. Bowling Green
Oklahoma State v. Central Michigan
Kansas v. Central Michigan

These schools look like they have at least one home only game/series set up:
Nebraska, Clemson, Illinois, Wisconsin, Oregon, Kansas State, Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia, Iowa, USC, Arkansas

I'm sure I overlooked some teams/matchups, but there's a general idea.

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

akron has a new on campus stadium. lets start the discussion there. nice 1 1/2 drive-pitt fans should rock that place.enjoy.

From what I recall from Temple's period of exile in the MAC, that stadium (which was brand new then) holds 15K max.

 

[California Panther]

From what I recall from Temple's period of exile in the MAC, that stadium (which was brand new then) holds 15K max.

Capacity is listed at 30,000, but they also say the Official sell-out is 27,881 per Akron web site http://www.gozips.com/athletics/facilities/InfoCision