OT: Duke raised $340M in athletic funds since 2007

[ThePanthers]

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211661442&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Endowed scholarships, had updates to facilities, and a huge boost to athletics. Their fans stepped up big time.

 

[pitt-girl]

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211661442&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Endowed scholarships, had updates to facilities, and a huge boost to athletics. Their fans stepped up big time.

Unfortunately most Pitt fans want results before $$. I understand the frustration with some of the AD's decisions over the decades, but we will NEVER get to the level everyone wants without $$.

 

[DiehardPanther]

Unfortunately most Pitt fans want results before $$. I understand the frustration with some of the AD's decisions over the decades, but we will NEVER get to the level everyone wants without $$.

Pitt fans got results in the mid-70's to early 80's, but still did not step up.

 

[ThePanthers]

Unfortunately most Pitt fans want results before $$. I understand the frustration with some of the AD's decisions over the decades, but we will NEVER get to the level everyone wants without $$.

Exactly.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

Pitt fans got results in the mid-70's to early 80's, but still did not step up.

They were also slammed down by the admin.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Duke made athletics a priority for their overall $3 billion campaign. Did Pitt make athletics a fundraising priority for their recent $2 billion campaign?

Duke did see big on field results several years after the campaign began. Funny how that works.

 

[ThePanthers]

Duke made athletics a priority for their overall $3 billion campaign. Did Pitt make athletics a fundraising priority for their recent $2 billion campaign?

Duke did see big on field results several years after the campaign began. Funny how that works.

Athletics focus during the campaign was less than 10%, yet their alumni stepped up and exceeded expectations for athletics.

You would think due to that, the on the field results began. Not the other way around.

 

[thebadby2]

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211661442&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Endowed scholarships, had updates to facilities, and a huge boost to athletics. Their fans stepped up big time.

I assume having the best overall basketball program in the country over the past 25 years, along with one of the nation's wealthiest alumni bases, has helped loosen the wallets.

 

[ThePanthers]

I assume having the best overall basketball program in the country over the past 25 years, along with one of the nation's wealthiest alumni bases, has helped loosen the wallets.

I'm sure it definitely helps.

Pitt had a hell of a successful run in MBB and our alumni chased the coach away.

 

[thebadby2]

I'm sure it definitely helps.

Pitt had a hell of a successful run in MBB and our alumni chased the coach away.

It's all relative. Compared to Duke, our run was short and uninspiring. We never made a single final four.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

I'm sure it definitely helps.

Pitt had a hell of a successful run in MBB and our alumni chased the coach away.

Did they? News to me.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

I'm sure it definitely helps.

Pitt had a hell of a successful run in MBB and our alumni chased the coach away.

Once again I will patiently correct the minions...

(1) JD is a fine coach and had a decent run. The success was about 1/10000th of Duke's in magnitude however.

(2) JD's woes started soon after the Khem Birch recruitment, because the Pitt admin found it unseemly. The best assistants fled aking with Birch. Dixon, and now Stallings, despite both having other recruiting success, couldn't and can't attract dead flies to Pitt hoops now.

(3) But the real sin was the clampdown on boosters and the force-out of Sherrill in the early 80s, when Pitt was legitimately among the elite. Subsequent admins have not learned the tragic lesson. Yet won't go all the way and kill the programs outright. Let them in mediocrity purgatory. And complain conveniently of "lack of support". Plus wonder why the university is more reviled than admired locally. For such brilliant academic minds they sure are fools when it comes to this business.

For everyone who admires Duke and thinks it is such an elite institution, note that it's no Ivy. It's a fine school ... as Pitt is ... but wisely recognizes that backing winning sports (as
repugnant as it likely is to their admin as it is for ours) is what makes it not just mildly admirable regional institution Duke, but national trademark "DUKE!" While Pitt is a tremendously accomplished school in its own right that can't even beg its own city to close a deadly portion of street amidst its own campus.

 

[pitt-girl]

Once again I will patiently correct the minions...

(1) JD is a fine coach and had a decent run. The success was about 1/10000th of Duke's in magnitude however.

(2) JD's woes started soon after the Khem Birch recruitment, because the Pitt admin found it unseemly. The best assistants fled aking with Birch. Dixon, and now Stallings, despite both having other recruiting success, couldn't and can't attract dead flies to Pitt hoops now.

(3) But the real sin was the clampdown on boosters and the force-out of Sherrill in the early 80s, when Pitt was legitimately among the elite. Subsequent admins have not learned the tragic lesson. Yet won't go all the way and kill the programs outright. Let them in mediocrity purgatory. And complain conveniently of "lack of support". Plus wonder why the university is more reviled than admired locally. For such brilliant academic minds they sure are fools when it comes to this business.

For everyone who admires Duke and thinks it is such an elite institution, note that it's no Ivy. It's a fine school ... as Pitt is ... but wisely recognizes that backing winning sports (as
repugnant as it likely is to their admin as it is for ours) is what makes it not just mildly admirable regional institution Duke, but national trademark "DUKE!" While Pitt is a tremendously accomplished school in its own right that can't even beg its own city to close a deadly portion of street amidst its own campus.

I won't disagree with anything you said, but honestly it's all just excuses. Pitt fans for the most part have been terrible with supporting its athletic programs.

 

[pitt-girl]

I won't disagree with anything you said, but honestly it's all just excuses. Pitt fans for the most part have been terrible with supporting its athletic programs.

Also, Duke is an EXCELLENT academic school. Not quite an Ivy but about as close as you can get.

 

[tps48]

Unfortunately most Pitt fans want results before $$. I understand the frustration with some of the AD's decisions over the decades, but we will NEVER get to the level everyone wants without $$.

Pitt fans want the wins and facilities without donating a dime.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Its simple to explain:

How many AD's has Duke had in the last 5 yrs?

How many football coaches has Duke had in the last 6 yrs?

How many basketball final fours has PITT been in in the last 10 yrs?

We knocked down an on campus football stadium replacing it
with the oversized mustard palace full of empty yellow seats!

We just ran off a successful basketball coach with the promise of making a
splash hire. Instead we hired a guy who looks and coaches basketball like the Zamboni driver from the Pittsburgh outdoor ice rink!

We did and do everything in our power to make Pro alums hate PITT athletics!

We've raised incompetence in non academic endeavors to a new high level!

That kind of sums it up!

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

Pitt fans want the wins and facilities without donating a dime.

Keep tonguing your boss.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

Pitt could be considered similar ... if it got a similar boost due to its great sports.

 

[joefromlancaster]

I just hope before I die that we can get it right for once!

 

[BuffetParrothead]

I just hope before I die that we can get it right for once!

How much time do you have?

 

[ThePanthers]

Pitt fans want the wins and facilities without donating a dime.

I just think it's funny that Pitt should be punished forever for something that happened almost 40 years ago. Things won't get better until both the admin and the alumni work together to make things better. We like to create our own roadblocks.

 

[pitt-girl]

I just think it's funny that Pitt should be punished forever for something that happened almost 40 years ago. Things won't get better until both the admin and the alumni work together to make things better. We like to create our own roadblocks.

Agree - it's all just excuses. I completely understand if someone doesn't have enough disposable income to donate. I've been there. It's about those who DO, but don't and then complain that we aren't better.

 

[ThePanthers]

Agree - it's all just excuses. I completely understand if someone doesn't have enough disposable income to donate. I've been there. It's about those who DO, but don't and then complain that we aren't better.

Agree. I don't have the fund to be a mega donor that will make a difference with one giant donation. But I give a decent amount each year and will continue to support Pitt athletics as much as I can, whether that is via giving, or attending games (all sports for me).

But when people refuse to give, and cite things that happened a generation ago, or if the goal of what will make them "happy" is a moving target, or it's NC or bust, that hurts. One person doesn't hurt, but when you add up the people that use the above excuses, that could be a raise to keep Narduzzi, or hire on some recruiters, etc.

 

[Chucky Green]

For everyone who admires Duke and thinks it is such an elite institution, note that it's no Ivy. It's a fine school ... as Pitt is ... but wisely recognizes that backing winning sports (as
repugnant as it likely is to their admin as it is for ours) is what makes it not just mildly admirable regional institution Duke, but national trademark "DUKE!" While Pitt is a tremendously accomplished school in its own right that can't even beg its own city to close a deadly portion of street amidst its own campus.

Ha ha. Just mildly admirable regional institution but no Ivy? Better than at least half the Ivies, and Duke ranges anywhere form 4th to 8th in the country, depending on what ranking you like. Big time endowment and graduate school too. Very big time. Football equivalent Ivies = Duke, Stanford, Northwestern.

 

[pitt-girl]

Agree. I don't have the fund to be a mega donor that will make a difference with one giant donation. But I give a decent amount each year and will continue to support Pitt athletics as much as I can, whether that is via giving, or attending games (all sports for me).

But when people refuse to give, and cite things that happened a generation ago, or if the goal of what will make them "happy" is a moving target, or it's NC or bust, that hurts. One person doesn't hurt, but when you add up the people that use the above excuses, that could be a raise to keep Narduzzi, or hire on some recruiters, etc.

I was very salty over Dixon leaving and the subsequent fallout, but we actually increased our donation to the max we could sacrifice (one kid undergrad, another in Law School). I know that sometimes it's not smart throwing good $$ after bad, but I think Pitt has been trying to do the right thing and I feel good about AD Lyke. I can't expect them to make any big moves if I'm not going to be a part of it, albeit a small part.

 

[Panther_in_Kentucky]

Duke made athletics a priority for their overall $3 billion campaign. Did Pitt make athletics a fundraising priority for their recent $2 billion campaign?

Duke did see big on field results several years after the campaign began. Funny how that works.

I'm sure it definitely helps.

Pitt had a hell of a successful run in MBB and our alumni chased the coach away.

Who are you referring to? Mid Major Jammin Jamie? Nerdy's BFF.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Athletics focus during the campaign was less than 10%, yet their alumni stepped up and exceeded expectations for athletics.

You would think due to that, the on the field results began. Not the other way around.

Looks like Duke's athletics expectation for the comprehensive campaign was originally 7.5%. What was the original percentage Pitt had for athletics for their comprehensive campaign?

 

[thebadby2]

I was very salty over Dixon leaving and the subsequent fallout, but we actually increased our donation to the max we could sacrifice (one kid undergrad, another in Law School). I know that sometimes it's not smart throwing good $$ after bad, but I think Pitt has been trying to do the right thing and I feel good about AD Lyke. I can't expect them to make any big moves if I'm not going to be a part of it, albeit a small part.

It's never bad money when it goes to support your school, even though the direction of things may not be what you want to see. Good for you.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

Ha ha. Just mildly admirable regional institution but no Ivy? Better than at least half the Ivies, and Duke ranges anywhere form 4th to 8th in the country, depending on what ranking you like. Big time endowment and graduate school too. Very big time. Football equivalent Ivies = Duke, Stanford, Northwestern.

Pitt could be this admired as well with equal sports accomplishments to its formidable academic achievements.

Our sports ... meh at best, occasionally outright embarrassing ... hold the university's reputation back.

It would be better for the value of all our degrees to either push for Duke level of success in at least one sport ... or to drop below anything but intramural club sports.

What they've done since 1982 has largely wasted everyone's time (save the occasional pro player who manages to pop his head out of the morass) and the ambitious coaches and AD who manipulate for better jobs.
What good has it been for anyone else?

And these posts from the usual suspects here are highly insulting. I have donated many thousands over the years. Not a fortune, but enough for a middle class guy. And enough that I feel plenty justified in daring to express dissatisfaction.

If it's true that posters simply calling you names is the last bastion of a lost argument, then the sneering claim that you're a fan who wants "something for nothing" is the next to last.

 

[ThePanthers]

Looks like Duke's athletics expectation for the comprehensive campaign was originally 7.5%. What was the original percentage Pitt had for athletics for their comprehensive campaign?

http://www.chronicle.pitt.edu/story...ture-together-campaign-exceeds-goal-2-billion

Here are the details. Within the $2B was the construction of he Petersen Events Center and Peterson Sports complex.

Same few people continue to step up, but we need more.

 

[DiehardPanther]

Who are you referring to? Mid Major Jammin Jamie? Nerdy's BFF.

He was the top assistant and then HC for the best 10 years of Pitt basketball ever.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

He was the top assistant and then HC for the best 10 years of Pitt basketball ever.

Whom the admins hung out to dry with poor assistants and unreasonable restraints.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

I won't disagree with anything you said, but honestly it's all just excuses. Pitt fans for the most part have been terrible with supporting its athletic programs.

So... you say I'm right ... which proves the administration is to blame (which by definition absolves the customers from blame) ... then revert back to blaming the customer?

 

[pitt-girl]

So... you say I'm right ... which proves the administration is to blame (which by definition absolves the customers from blame) ... then revert back to blaming the customer?

No, my point is there is always an excuse. At some point you have to make a decision (and it's a personal one), should I continue to donate or not? If not, that's okay, but it then becomes hard to be critical if you're not part of the team.

Not trying to say what the right answer is here. Like I said, it's a personal decision.

 

[pitt-girl]

Pitt could be this admired as well with equal sports accomplishments to its formidable academic achievements.

Our sports ... meh at best, occasionally outright embarrassing ... hold the university's reputation back.

It would be better for the value of all our degrees to either push for Duke level of success in at least one sport ... or to drop below anything but intramural club sports.

What they've done since 1982 has largely wasted everyone's time (save the occasional pro player who manages to pop his head out of the morass) and the ambitious coaches and AD who manipulate for better jobs.
What good has it been for anyone else?

And these posts from the usual suspects here are highly insulting. I have donated many thousands over the years. Not a fortune, but enough for a middle class guy. And enough that I feel plenty justified in daring to express dissatisfaction.

If it's true that posters simply calling you names is the last bastion of a lost argument, then the sneering claim that you're a fan who wants "something for nothing" is the next to last.

Using your methodology of at least focusing on one sport, don't you think Pitt did that with the Pete (much to the chagrin of football fans)?

The thing with Duke is that they diverted some amount of that $$ to the expansion of their football stadium. Duke has never been synonomous with football success, but having the funds allowed them to start competing with others in the conference.

Unless and until Pitt fans step up, I'm not sure what everyone expects here.

 

[HailtoPitt]

http://www.chronicle.pitt.edu/story/pitt's-building-our-future-together-campaign-exceeds-goal-2-billion

Here are the details. Within the $2B was the construction of he Petersen Events Center and Peterson Sports complex.

Same few people continue to step up, but we need more.

I wouldn't consider those things details. They just threw them in for that article to make it seem like those things were part of the campaign plan. The difference seems to be that Duke had a clear goal (7.5%) at the start, while Pitt had no athletic goals whatsoever (that I can find). I could be wrong, but that is how it appears.

 

[ThePanthers]

I wouldn't consider those things details. They just threw them in for that article to make it seem like those things were part of the campaign plan. The difference seems to be that Duke had a clear goal (7.5%) at the start, while Pitt had no athletic goals whatsoever (that I can find). I could be wrong, but that is how it appears.

Ha. OK. They just threw in multi million dollar projects. Whatever.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Ha. OK. They just threw in multi million dollar projects. Whatever.

The Pete was already in the process of being built when the campaign began. They probably secured some funds during the campaign. My point is that they didn't have a clear goal as part of the campaign like Duke appeared to have set. Why not?

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

The Pete was already in the process of being built when the campaign began. They probably secured some funds during the campaign. My point is that they didn't have a clear goal as part of the campaign like Duke appeared to have set. Why not?

I'll answer because the others are afraid for their jobs within the Pitt admin, or afraid of not getting a Christmas card ... I mean, a Sparkle Season card (its academia after all) from the chancellor.

They didn't, and don't focus on it because they find major revenue athletics repugnant.

They maintain it at a barrel-bottom and puritan level as they do, because a still sizable contingent of Neanderthal alum still like it (and harbor dreams that the school has the objective of "championships" as each rotating-door AD laughably stresses in their annual introductory presser).

But mainly they're kept limping along, because there is a P5 conference still foolish enough to let us be members, due to our fortuitous Tv market location, and sold on the false promises at the time of lifting our football program beyond mediocre, and maintaining our then-excellent basketball program (both frauds). The conference kicks back substantial money to Pitt for that membership, so its worth keeping up the charade to the dandies and prissy boys in the paneled rooms, as distasteful as it is.

If it sounds a lot like the Pirates and Nutting and the sweetheart deal they have with mlb to field a bare minimum team, well that's no coincidence, I think. It's a similar business model (now finally with bobbleheads!).

 

[ThePanthers]

The Pete was already in the process of being built when the campaign began. They probably secured some funds during the campaign. My point is that they didn't have a clear goal as part of the campaign like Duke appeared to have set. Why not?

What clear goal, they set a target and the alumni donated whatever and far exceeded that goal. Communications were most likely sent out to the large donors. That is the funniest thing. Pitt fans need absolutely catered to. At least the ones on here. Too dumb to figure out the simplest things. I'm guessing someone has to wipe your ass every time you crap too.