H & H deal signed for 2026 and 2027. Awesome job again by Lyke and staff.
Pitt vs Wisconsin OOC
- Thread starter Pittnerski
- Start date
Sorry Penn State...we have to play a real team in a real stadium.
For all the folks that say they don't won't Pitt to play PSU anymore....make sure to buy tickets for the home Wisconsin game....and then buy 5 more for friends and family.
Sell out Heinz for games like Wisconsin - same way we do for PSU - and we won't need to schedule PSU anymore.
Sell out Heinz for games like Wisconsin - same way we do for PSU - and we won't need to schedule PSU anymore.
Pitt will manhandle WIS. Chryst will be scared sh*tless against us, couldn't even lead us what makes one think he can actually beat us? Pitt by 2 TD's in both games.
on the flip side, we could play Duquesne and Robert morris and some pitt fans on here would complain that we should play a weaker OOC. P5 team playing a P5 team is unfair. not sure how that makes sense but that's how some on this board feel.
We don't NEED to schedule PSU now... That line of thinking comes from the nitters... All that Lyke has to do is schedule opponents that are attractive to the causal fan. Wisconsin is one of them.
Yeah it is ludacris to ever complain about the schedule being to hard or too soft EVER.
The schedules are made many many years in advance .
Got a kick out of people complaining that this season's schedule is too hard .
The evidence suggests otherwise. Look at ticket sales for Oklahoma St last year vs PSU this year.
The program doesn't need PSU games to be successful. However, PSU games sell tickets and fill the stadium more than other OOC games. That makes scheduling PSU attractive. Fill the stadium for Wisconsin, OK State, etc and then PSU is less attractive to schedule. Pretty simple, really.
I get a kick out of people wanting us to schedule teams in a lower division, d1-aa teams that are glorified scrimmages and then in another thread, complaining about attendance and game day atmosphere at Heinz.
What thread was that in? Nobody has complained about playing a P5 game. You really let the point of those threads blow right past you.
Great point, I think Lyke needs to find a way to start putting together some sort of attractive promotions to get more fair weather fans to the field (which can be done and she's already proven it with basketball). I would venture that WIS is a step in the right direction, would have rather had Ohio State or Michigan because they would have easily filled up the stadium much like PSU, but like I said, its a good start.
F psu... nothing but sissy b'yatches..
Love it. Wisconsin is never some elite talent team, but they do have elite team clout. So it's not that daunting of a task for us to win, but would come with a lot of national exposure if we do. I actually wish the games were even sooner.
there have been countless threads on here about pitt fans complaining about our scheduling P5 programs out of conference. it's pretty much dominated this board that last few months. Have you really never seen this?
Yes, the evidence does suggest otherwise....
From Paul Zeise:
"In 2003 Pitt had its best attendance ever, by a lot, 4 games over 60K and didn’t have PSU on schedule. In 00 they had PSU at home and had its lowest avg attendance from 1999-2014. They avg’d 50 K or more 5 times since 1999, none with PSU on the sked. Facts suck, I know, I know"
To further your knowledge, you can read his column on the subject:
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...ginia-wvu-backyard-brawl/stories/201802130117
And even less so to the bottom line when you're talking 1 or 2 games at most a decade. Another one for the glue factory.
in another thread, I posted the attendance numbers in '09, home games only. Some very impressive (for Pitt) numbers. ND and CIncy game were huge of course but even the noon cuse game, 3:30pm game against South Florida and a navy home game had respectable numbers..
Locals will jump on the bandwagon for a winning pitt team. we break into top 25, walk up numbers will be there.
Wisconsin fans travel very, very well. I expect that coupled with the curiosity of visiting Pittsburgh and experiencing Heinz (which yes, IS a draw for opposing fans), it will result in a fairly full stadium.
Pitt will have to give tickets away for free if you want a sell out for the Wisconsin game. And I'm not sure if giving the tickets away would result in a full stadium.
No. Wisconsin travels very, very well. If Pitt fans don't sell out the stadium, the Wisconsin fans will turn Heinz into Camp Randall Stadium very quickly...
This H & H makes a lot more sense geographically than OKST.
What does season attendance have to do with attendance for a single game?
Oh yeah, nothing.
Just because more people went to other games those seasons doesn't change the fact PSU will draw more attendance for an individual game than any other team.
Here is a link:
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/09/10/pitt-penn-state-game-draws-record-crowds/
"Highest attended sporting event in history of Pittsburgh"
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Everyone and their mother wanted to go watch Larry in his prusuit of the Heisman. Special circumstances.
Count me in as someone who wishes pitt would schedule a cupcake OOC schedule. I'd rather we finish with 10 wins instead of 8 or 11 instead of 9. I want Pitt to be in the top 15 or 20. I wish Pitt would follow the Saban scheduling formula and stack those wins. Imagine having momentum going into the conference season. Wouldn't that be nice? Traveling to some higher quality bowls would be fun.
Agree with Zimmeramn. At least for a few years. Pad 4 wins into the OOC and build up the resume.
This is a good series to have.
On the flip side for fans drooling to play psu for whatever stupid reason they have in their brains.... I can guarantee you if Pitt is in the top 15 and playing a top 15 UNC, VaTech or Miami, then the stadium will be packed. Win and play good opponents, and you’ll have fans. Win and play crap opponents, you’ll get your 35k, lose and play crap opponents, enjoy 25-30k. It’s not a hard concept to figure out.
On the flip side for fans drooling to play psu for whatever stupid reason they have in their brains.... I can guarantee you if Pitt is in the top 15 and playing a top 15 UNC, VaTech or Miami, then the stadium will be packed. Win and play good opponents, and you’ll have fans. Win and play crap opponents, you’ll get your 35k, lose and play crap opponents, enjoy 25-30k. It’s not a hard concept to figure out.
Honestly, what has Heather Lyke really done wrong during her tenure here? All programs (not just basketball and football) are looking up. Great hire.
If Pitt is competing for an ACC title, the fair weather fans will show up regardless of the non conference record. As a hardcore college football fan, you might care about 9 wins instead of 8, but for the people not showing up, those numbers sound about the same and will only be interested if we're playing WVU/PSU/ND or playing a game to get into the conference championship that gets local hype.
Good to know you wont be there...that should make attending more attractive for the rest of us.
Once their winter starts in September... They look for any reason to leave Wisconsin.
Wisky played in the NCAAT here years ago in the Civic Arena. I was shocked how many fans they had in attendance. It wasn't because of the snow. It's just their culture.
I get up to Camp Randall just about every year and have many friends in WI. Other than the 5 weeks of summer; it's hell on earth. Historically, they will travel in droves to watch WI play ping pong if it were south of WI.
That said, recently they haven't sold out their allotments for bowls etc. Pittsburgh will be a new location verses the only P5 team they will play OOC in those years; I expect that game will draw very well.
That said, recently they haven't sold out their allotments for bowls etc. Pittsburgh will be a new location verses the only P5 team they will play OOC in those years; I expect that game will draw very well.
We offer pretty cheap tickets, it's a drive they can do in a (long) day, some people want to go to Heinz Field. Definitely cheaper than flying to the Orange Bowl, where they still sold something like 12,000? tickets to Badgers. I agree they'll travel and we should get some good revenue and TV coverage. Much better than playing Oklahoma State.
I believe that an extra win or two could really impact the turn out of the casual fans. When the team is ranked coverage is more favorable and that little # next to Pitts name makes them a lot more intriguing to people. It is a simple as people love a winner. It doesn't matter who the wins are against.
Not saying winters aren't bad there, but they travel because it's the culture IMHO. If it's because of bad weather, Gopher fans must travel in HUGE amounts.
"What does season attendance have to do with attendance for a single game? Oh yeah, nothing."
That might be the WTF statement I've read in awhile...
Who needs a home schedule? All Pitt has to do is schedule PSU every week, every year!
It's called a rivalry and no school will ever draw more than they do against a rival. Look at the record crowds from every school. The rival game always sits on top. WVU games can sell out Heinz Field every year too. Notre Dame will sell out when they visit Heinz.
The true measure of fan interest is not one game against a rival. Average attendance tells the story.
Here is what you NEED to get asses in the seats:
1. Win meaningful games. WIN.
2. Strong out out of conference schedule helps.
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