- Regardless of what happens tomorrow against penn state, the University of Pittsburgh needs to take a long, hard, honest look at the Pitt football program. If they do, they will see a program that seems to be going no where fast.
The issue is not Head Coach Pat Narduzzi. In fact, in my opinion, he is the perfect man for the job. The man is a great representative of the University of Pittsburgh and he demonstrates the qualities that every parent of a recruit would want to see from their son's future head coach.
The largest issue with the football program is the one that no one really wants to talk about...the lack of a "on-campus" stadium that they call their own. This issue is used against Pitt at every visit to a potential recruit. My nephew is a pretty good football player and has been receiving some D-I interest. I sat in on a home visit with a coach from a school I will not name and within the first two minutes the subject was brought up. Now to you and I, playing in front on 30,000 people, in a stadium that you "rent" may not be a big deal, but to an 18 year old athlete, it is something special.
-The University of Pittsburgh runs its Athletic Department, the same way that Bob Nutting runs the Pirates. They both talk of wanting their teams to be successful, but neither of them seem to have the testicular fortitude to step up and make the "big moves" needed to improve their situations. The "big moves" I'm referring to is...spending some money. For Pitt that means, Heather Lyke MUST find a way to make an on-campus stadium a reality. It is what most Pitt fans desire, the football program needs and quite frankly, Heather Lyke needs to have happen to help bring in the big money into Pitt athletic department.
-When I got home after the Ohio game last Saturday, I was curious to hear what the opposing teams radio guys were saying about the Pitt team. To my surprise, they were very complementary
of the Pitt football team. They spoke highly of Kenny Pickett's talent and were very impressed by just how good the Pitt defense played against a pretty good Ohio University offense. They also said that the stadium attendance for the game was roughly 25,000. I then had to see just how right they were. Pitt announced the game day attendance of 42,168. Based upon what I saw from my seats, I'd have to side with the Ohio University radio guys. How can there be 17,000+
-Also, it is truly sad that the PITT - penn state series is going on a hiatus again. This "rivalry" game should be played EVERY year. I've said this before and I'll say it again, Pitt needs to take a hard line stance and make our friends to the east understand that if the Pitt - penn state football game is not played every year, then the University of Pittsburgh will refuse to play penn state in any sport.
-Lastly, I know its a crazy idea but I'd like to see the University of Pittsburgh consider moving its main campus from the Oakland area of Pittsburgh out to the current location of the Pitt-Greensburg campus. Keep the Oakland location for those students majoring in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Physical Therapy and other health related majors and send the rest of the students out to the Greensburg Campus. There is a lot of open area in Westmoreland County and I'm pretty sure that a 45,000 seat football stadium being built in the area would be welcomed by all.
Hail 2 Pitt!!
The issue is not Head Coach Pat Narduzzi. In fact, in my opinion, he is the perfect man for the job. The man is a great representative of the University of Pittsburgh and he demonstrates the qualities that every parent of a recruit would want to see from their son's future head coach.
The largest issue with the football program is the one that no one really wants to talk about...the lack of a "on-campus" stadium that they call their own. This issue is used against Pitt at every visit to a potential recruit. My nephew is a pretty good football player and has been receiving some D-I interest. I sat in on a home visit with a coach from a school I will not name and within the first two minutes the subject was brought up. Now to you and I, playing in front on 30,000 people, in a stadium that you "rent" may not be a big deal, but to an 18 year old athlete, it is something special.
-The University of Pittsburgh runs its Athletic Department, the same way that Bob Nutting runs the Pirates. They both talk of wanting their teams to be successful, but neither of them seem to have the testicular fortitude to step up and make the "big moves" needed to improve their situations. The "big moves" I'm referring to is...spending some money. For Pitt that means, Heather Lyke MUST find a way to make an on-campus stadium a reality. It is what most Pitt fans desire, the football program needs and quite frankly, Heather Lyke needs to have happen to help bring in the big money into Pitt athletic department.
-When I got home after the Ohio game last Saturday, I was curious to hear what the opposing teams radio guys were saying about the Pitt team. To my surprise, they were very complementary
of the Pitt football team. They spoke highly of Kenny Pickett's talent and were very impressed by just how good the Pitt defense played against a pretty good Ohio University offense. They also said that the stadium attendance for the game was roughly 25,000. I then had to see just how right they were. Pitt announced the game day attendance of 42,168. Based upon what I saw from my seats, I'd have to side with the Ohio University radio guys. How can there be 17,000+
-Also, it is truly sad that the PITT - penn state series is going on a hiatus again. This "rivalry" game should be played EVERY year. I've said this before and I'll say it again, Pitt needs to take a hard line stance and make our friends to the east understand that if the Pitt - penn state football game is not played every year, then the University of Pittsburgh will refuse to play penn state in any sport.
-Lastly, I know its a crazy idea but I'd like to see the University of Pittsburgh consider moving its main campus from the Oakland area of Pittsburgh out to the current location of the Pitt-Greensburg campus. Keep the Oakland location for those students majoring in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Physical Therapy and other health related majors and send the rest of the students out to the Greensburg Campus. There is a lot of open area in Westmoreland County and I'm pretty sure that a 45,000 seat football stadium being built in the area would be welcomed by all.
Hail 2 Pitt!!
