People who complain about economically driven scheduling but don't donate or even attend games sometimes 🧐
Report: Pitt vs Wisconsin at Ireland in 2027; vs RMU at Acrisure in 2028
- Thread starter HailToPitt725
- Start date
I agree that Pitt does horrible in these games which doesn't make much sense. However, the the correct response is to do what it takes to win these games, rather than cower in fear of them.
Its been 25 years of this scheduling strategy going back to Pederson's big announcement in the 90s that we are playing Nebraska, A&M, and MSU. We are 5-20 under multiple HC's. Pitt is NEVER going to win these games. So, I disagree. We should stop playing them. Nobody in Pgh gives one crap about OK St or Utah coming in. Had we simply played a G5 instead of these schools over the last 25 years, our program might actually be in a much better place right now. Winning that 1 game vs Kent instead of losing to Utah makes a difference. Over 25 years, those extra wins start meaning something
Exactly.
Nowhere in the discussion do any of these guys address season ticket sales. Be thankful they don't work for the AD.
There is no shame in losing to good to great OCC teams. On the other hand, losing WTF games is shameful. YSU, Toledo, Ohio, Navy multiple times, and Akron come to mind.
My formula:
1. Schedule and rotate ND, PSU, or WVU (maybe OSU) home games. Do what you can to make that happen. That pretty much ensures that you will maximize season ticket sales year over year.
2. Schedule a local roadkill game with RMU, Duquesne, YSU, Temple and a MAC team.
3. One game with a bottom-tier team from a P5 conference (Vandy, Indiana, Minnesota)
4. The rest with ACC schlock.
Before some of you say, "Hey Seneca, we are going to lose games going that route, it is closing in on 40 years since our last undefeated season. I've not only got used to it, I fully expect it. Give me games that create buzz and let the chips fall where they may.
What good is beating a G5 team and going 8-4 vs. Going 7-5 with a loss to Wisconsin? It isn't going to make any difference for bowl game selection, acc championship participation, or the college football playoffs. If you can't beat a mediocre Power 5 team you are at best another mediocre Power 5 team.
And what good is it to beat Wisconsin to go 8-4 instead of 7-5? No one cares about Wisconsin.
I will answer it this way.
We've only been 4-0 once since the mid 80s I believe. Beating Kent instead of this guaranteed L game, helps to build much-needed buzz around this program. Not because of beating Kent but because maybe we start 5-0, 6-0, 7-0, God forbid 9-0 or 10-0. But we always lose that September game and it kills the season. So why play it? It doesn't increase ticket sales. And you are getting 1 loss and probably 2.
We arent disagreeing like you think we are.
- We both agree we should play ND, PSU, or WVU every year. 1 of these games, not multiple. Maybe if PSU wants to plays us, we can revisit the idea of playing 2 of these in a year
- G5
- FCS
- You say lower P5. I say another G5 but there's not a ton of difference there. Vandy and IU, I'd be much more fine with than Utah, OK St, Wis, Cincy, etc. Min is good sometimes, you are going to lose up there for sure. I'd throw Kansas in there although they are good this year but there's no way that can last. Just safer to schedule the other G5 team.
So do you think Vandy at home sells more tickets than Ball State at home? I would say it doesn't sell one single extra ticket.
Well let's look at 2016. If we played Kent State at home immediately after the PSU game instead of Oklahoma State on the road, we are looking at 3-0 heading into the UNC game with somewhat of a breather in between Carolina & PSU. Not saying it would have made a difference, but the team was definitely worn out in the stretch in the UNC game after two big games back to back. Maybe they have more energy not to lose on the last play of the game.
And the final record would have been at least 9-3 rather than 8-4, probably good enough to ensure a final top 25 ranking and not be dependent on the bowl game. Maybe even 10-2 as UNC would have probably been a win also.
So there's the good in beating a G5 team, and that's just one example
That was also 3 straight 90 degree games. Being 3-1 with an easy W over Kent could have made all the difference going into UNC.
How about 2015? Had we not scheduled the L in Iowa City, we are 7-0, ranked #11 going into a huge Thursday night game vs UNC. Being undefeated that late could put an extra 20K in the house. Instead the place was dead for a 6-1 Pitt team. Pitt needs to be "extra good" in the eyes of Yinzers to get any buzz around here. 6-1, who cares. And most casual fans dont realize or care that a close loss at Iowa is more impressive than beating Kent. Stop scheduling these games. I am sure games vs TCU and South Carolina are already being worked on
What makes you think they would have been able to beat Kent?
You're joking with this post, right?
Kent State was 3-9 in 2016. You really think a team with James Conner, Peterman, etc, would have lost to those jabronis? Yeah may have been kind of an ugly game especially after PSU, but the outcome would never have been in doubt.
We are 5-20 in the last years in these games. We are probably like 20-5 in the G5 games. There's a much greater chance of winning 2 G5 home games (and they should ALWAYS be at home) than a home and home with a mediocre P5.
So wait, playing and then losing to those middle of the road Big 10 teams was a mistake??? Everyone on here thinks the Big 10 is a joke. Nothing more than a two-team conference. Iowa and Nebraska are in the Big 10 West, which has been called by Pitt fans the weakest division in college football. Pitt happens to be 11-20 against the Big 10 since 1972 when Pitt became relevant again as a football program. Now Pitt fans don't want to play Wisconsin? Another Big 10 West team? The weakest division in all of college football?
Currently, six of the top 10 teams in the country will be in the Big 10 next year. 2. Michigan, 4. Ohio State, 6. Penn State, 7. Washington, 8. Oregon, and 9. USC.
I'm from the old school that if you want to be the best, you have to play the best and you toughen yourself playing higher competition which will benefit you in the long run, and not run away from competition. More fans will be at the Florida State game than at the Wofford game. Better opponents = better attendance.
Currently, six of the top 10 teams in the country will be in the Big 10 next year. 2. Michigan, 4. Ohio State, 6. Penn State, 7. Washington, 8. Oregon, and 9. USC.
I'm from the old school that if you want to be the best, you have to play the best and you toughen yourself playing higher competition which will benefit you in the long run, and not run away from competition. More fans will be at the Florida State game than at the Wofford game. Better opponents = better attendance.
FSU is a blue blood or close to it. I'm fine with losing to OSU, Mich, USC, Bama, LSU, Tex, OU, etc.
Wis, MSU, Iowa, Utah, OK St, Cincy, etc arent. Dumb games to schedule. In fact, you know that "dumb ways to die" meme song. If I had Tiktok, I'd make a "dumb games to schedule" video and go viral.
There's no at-large bid for Pitt for to be racking up SOS points. And bowl games are only determined by fan travel. Beating Wisconsin does NOTHING and you are going to lose.
5-20
Stop playing them.
Why stop there? There is a chance we can lose to Kent St. or Furman, hell, even Duquesne scored some points against WVU. Let's just play Grove City and Thiel every game. Actually if all that matters is beating up on horrible teams why even play in the ACC? Let's drop down to D2 and dominate like Georgia.
It's not cowering in fear. It's a tactical retreat. Only idiots are for continually making the same mistake for 40+ years, especially when other programs have shown the proper way to build up a stagnant program.
Rutgers and NC State made livings off starting like 5-0 vs trash and getting fans fired up. Then some big team would come in and the place would be rocking and they'd lose.
As you say, we keep doing this over and over and it never works. Why keep doing it? Because we might win a few? So what. What if we beat Wisconsin? So what. Its too big of a risk, for a small reward. We are going 8-4 at best that year anyway. Beating Wisconsin does little for the program.
We can do a home and home but their "home game" has to be played at the outlets.
They're almost as funny as people who donate small amounts of money and think that makes them invested stakeholders.
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