Lots. But I thought carefully through it before I posted it, unlike you who "shoots from the hip!" As the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney states: "The beatings will continue until morale improves."
Good post. I think the problem with Pitt is it's culture. Gallagher - despite his coming in with "great expectations" has run into a highly political culture at Pitt ... one that he is "scared to death" to violate. A real leader would say, we are going to spend the money we need (i.e., $300 million) to restore Pitt football to greatness and bring it back on campus. That is the direction we are heading. Get on board or we will leave you at the station." He doesn't seem to have the courage, or leadership skills, to do that.
You should stick to Disney movies. In the real world, Narduzzi is fighting an uphill battle to land good players because the product (Pitt) is a lot tougher to sell. What advantages does Pitt have on Michigan, Ohio St, PSU, VT, and Notre Dame? Why should a 4 or 5 star player from OH, NJ, PA, MD, and VA choose us over those schools?
I wonder this a lot myself, and I honestly don't think any reason they could give would be what I would consider a good reason. I mean let's take the worst possible academic scenario in that case, you get a bunch of really good football players who aren't good students. That is still a very small percentage of the student body. Pitt will still be a top notch academic school.
Yes there have been plenty of changes. But the actual football program, has never gotten over the hump while at the same time never completely fallen down the hill. Walt took over and immediately got the team to a bowl game, the following year was a massive rebuild with the team only winning two games.
Now most of this I agree with, especially the recruiting part and the hiring of Stallings and bringing in Max Browne.
Aren't you the same guy that bashed Canada after the Nova game last year? Aren't you the same guy that complained about Peterman? Aren't you the same guy who wanted Dixon fired? Aren't you the same guy who wanted to hire Doc Holliday? Yea...lol...okay.
I could never imagine Pitt supplanting or even equaling the interest the general public has in the Steelers or Penguins so let's take that thought off the table . Western Pa and Pitt are large enough that over time a winning program should be able to put 60k in Heinz Fl and fill up the Pete . Pitt needs to make the student experience special over a long enough period of time to develop a large alumni following . PSU doesn't fill Beaver Stadium up with its current students . Pitts bb and FB teams need to win and provide an experience to the students that makes it the thing to do whenever or whomever they play . It all starts with the students they do turn into your alumni .
We're blackmailing Jeff Bezos away from getting a new Pitt stadium AND getting public transportation from Oakland all the way to the airport. Somebody get on it!!
Hope I accomplished my main goal of making people with intelligence think. Pitt needs to produce a winning product that people want to buy. They should not expect conscientious people to continue to throw "good dollars" against "bad causes" which is the epitome of Pitt athletics over the last 32 years.
You obviously didn't study politi
PittLaw: "The Impossible" is what great leaders accomplish. Did you study Political Science or History before you got your law degree? Ever study what Roosevelt did get wartime production of planes, tanks, etc. to "impossible" levels? Churchill's "We will fight them on the beaches" speech after all of Western Europe fell to Hitler, Washington fighting the Revolution without the ability to pay his troops or provide them with sufficient food and shelter, Kennedy setting a goal in 1961 to land a man on the moon by 1960." All of those goals were much more difficult than Pitt's Chancellor committing to spend $300 million (or whatever amount is correct) to restore Pitt's football "on campus" experience and it's athletic heritage. Especially considering how many millions of dollars that the school has already wasted coupled with the millions of missed TV and major bowl revenue with their misguided management of our athletic programs. Great accomplishments start with great leaders. Gallagher's opportunity to step up is nearly gone. Rather than pull Pitt out of its athletic morass, he is letting them continue to struggle in it.
If we have to be the ones determining this then we don't need to pay for Pitt's Administration. That's their job. They need to pick a place and get it built. No more excuses.
Sorry , but being a fan of any sports team , professional or college doesn't require any direct financial obligation . If you wish to attend games then there's a cost that those teams charge you . If you want better seats or access to special privileges then you pay more . Anyone watching their favorite teams games on Tv or listening on radio provides those teams indirectly with additional revenues from advertisers so even those who never attend a game or donate a penny are helping to support their favorite teams .
