Teel article

[ThePanthers]

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/teel-blog/dp-teel-time-whit-babcock-audience-post.html

Has some acc network projections. Big numbers from winter meetings. Hopefully these projections hold.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

We're set. I sincerely mean that. The ACC isn't perfect by any means but we are in good shape.

 

[bwh05]

If we hit those projections this league as a whole is in great shape.

 

[HOF Coach]

We're set. I sincerely mean that. The ACC isn't perfect by any means but we are in good shape.

Just imagine what the future for PITT athletics would look like had the move to the ACC never happened.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

That is absolutely true but it also goes both ways. They weren't getting a network without adding schools like Boston College, Syracuse, Miami and Pitt.

I mean, that's why we were all added. Just take a look at the quantum leap the television contract made after they added SU and Pitt. Obviously, a lot of that was timing but marketshare also played a big part in that decision.

In other words, we are not the beneficiary some sort of charity, we are equal partners and we have already earned our place in this partnership. We should never lose sight of that fact when discussing conference issues and we definitely should not allow fans of other schools to lose sight of that fact either.

Still, your point is well taken. It takes nothing more than to take a look at the University of Connecticut and it's situation to see the razor thin difference between making it and falling just short and into the abyss.

UConn was definitely at least discussed as the 14th team to go along with Syracuse to the ACC, and again as the replacement for Maryland when the Terps bolted for the Big Ten. However, the ACC opted for Pitt and later Louisville instead.

The Huskies, which have played in a BCS game more recently than we have and which has significantly stronger men's and women's basketball programs, are now instead left to die on the AAC vine and there would not appear to be any relief in sight.

That has to be a terrifying realization if you are a fan of the athletic programs at the University of Connecticut.

There are even persistent rumors floating around right now that they are talking about making the move from the AAC to the Big East for all sports except football and either going independent in football or parking that sport in another conference – likely the MAC.

That would obviously suck out loud and would be the deathknell of their football program. However, when you look at the landscape, it would be hard to blame them.

That is going to be a very interesting situation to keep an eye on over the next several years. What will become of the University of Connecticut's athletic programs?

Obviously, their women's basketball program will be fine. You could put them in the PSAC and they would still win national championships. However, as is the case everywhere else, this is all about football and barring something completely insane, I just don't see how it's going to happen for them any time in the foreseeable future?

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

"Dr. von Yinzer, post: 1817737, member: 3314"]That is absolutely true but it also goes both ways. They weren't getting a network without adding schools like Boston College, Syracuse, Miami and Pitt.

I mean, that's why we were all added. Just take a look at the quantum leap the television contract made after they added SU and Pitt. Obviously, a lot of that was timing but marketshare also played a big part in that decision.

In other words, we are not the beneficiary some sort of charity, we are equal partners and we have already earned our place in this partnership. We should never lose sight of that fact when discussing conference issues and we definitely should not allow fans of other schools to lose sight of that fact either.

Still, your point is well taken. It takes nothing more than to take a look at the University of Connecticut and it's situation to see the razor thin difference between making it and falling just short and into the abyss.

UConn was definitely at least discussed as the 14th team to go along with Syracuse to the ACC, and again as the replacement for Maryland when the Terps bolted for the Big Ten. However, the ACC opted for Pitt and later Louisville instead.

The Huskies, which have played in a BCS game more recently than we have and which has significantly stronger men's and women's basketball programs, are now instead left to die on the AAC vine and there would not appear to be any relief in sight.

That has to be a terrifying realization if you are a fan of the athletic programs at the University of Connecticut.

There are even persistent rumors floating around right now that they are talking about making the move from the AAC to the Big East for all sports except football and either going independent in football or parking that sport in another conference – likely the MAC.

That would obviously suck out loud and would be the deathknell of their football program. However, when you look at the landscape, it would be hard to blame them.

That is going to be a very interesting situation to keep an eye on over the next several years. What will become of the University of Connecticut's athletic programs?

Obviously, their women's basketball program will be fine. You could put them in the PSAC and they would still win national championships. However, as is the case everywhere else, this is all about football and barring something completely insane, I just don't see how it's going to happen for them any time in the foreseeable future?
DVY, one of the Best Posts you ever wrote, quite agree, and Thank You!

 

[9nationalchampionships]

If these numbers hold up, we should be able to provide many nap rooms for the players.

 

[pittdan77]

Just imagine what the future for PITT athletics would look like had the move to the ACC never happened.

WVU......something along those lines.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Thank God BC ****blocked UConn........

 

[bwh05]

If these numbers hold up, we should be able to provide many nap rooms for the players.

I can't wait to check out the laser tag faculty and get a hair cut afterwards

 

[CrazyPaco]

Thank God BC ****blocked UConn........

BC didn't block sheep.

 

[CrazyPaco]

Before everyone gets too giddy, remember that our peer competitors in the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC will be making the same money from their conferences, and most of them will be making substantially more gate revenue and have bigger booster donations. The elevator is going up, but we are still lying on its floor. The cost of obtaining and retaining quality coaches and staff is just going up for everyone, recruiting budgets are going up for everyone, and the arms race with facilities just gets faster for everyone.

Not to mention, Pitt still has a real estate problem like no others in the P5 when talking about trying to expand any facilities.

 

[Swervin27]

I don't care how much money the athletic dept makes, just as long as the same posters come on here after every loss and blame us fans for not giving enough money as the reason why we lost a football game.. If I as a fan am not blamed for my lack of donations for 2-3 losses every fall, I just don't feel good about myself.. Please promise me that wont change.

 

[CrazyPaco]

Obviously, their women's basketball program will be fine. You could put them in the PSAC and they would still win national championships.

Until Geno retires. Tennessee was once unassailable as well.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Cause you know you gotta have that

I can't wait to check out the laser tag faculty and get a hair cut afterwards

 

[ThePanthers]

Thank God BC ****blocked UConn........

BC didn't block UConn. They may have opposed them, but if the other ACC schools wanted them, they would be in.

 

[chethejet]

ACC has the demographics the Big Ten would love. ACC is a different animal as to institutional size and scope. Big Ten and SEC and for that matter some of the Pac 12 are land grant Universities. ACC has NC, VA as the lead dog in the states represented. So consider the facts Big Ten has far more size and reach and history. But then again, tell me how that 40 million has helped Purdue, Indiana, Minny, now Rutgers and MD eventually. It still comes down to recruiting, coaching ect.

ACC is doing very well relative to the size and programs they compete against now. Money certainly is a big consideration but in the end, the footprint as to talent and investment in said programs matter. But Pitt certainly will benefit from the P5 conference. Yes it is all relative, but Narduzzi can be very successful and isn't that what matters.

 

[Swervin27]

until pitt players get the much needed putt-putt golf in their facility, we will always be at a disadvantage..

 

[9nationalchampionships]

But call it PITT-PITT golf

until pitt players get the much needed putt-putt golf in their facility, we will always be at a disadvantage..

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Before everyone gets too giddy, remember that our peer competitors in the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC will be making the same money from their conferences, and most of them will be making substantially more gate revenue and have bigger booster donations. The elevator is going up, but we are still lying on its floor. The cost of obtaining and retaining quality coaches and staff is just going up for everyone, recruiting budgets are going up for everyone, and the arms race with facilities just gets faster for everyone.

Not to mention, Pitt still has a real estate problem like no others in the P5 when talking about trying to expand any facilities.

That's true but at least we are on the elevator. A lot of very good programs would kill to be at the bottom of this particular elevator.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Until Geno retires. Tennessee was once unassailable as well.

That's true too. And before Tennessee, it was Louisiana Tech. I cannot argue with you there.

However, they have built up an incredible infrastructure for women's basketball they should be able to maintain a strong program. I don't know if they'll be winning 100 consecutive games after he retires but I also wouldn't expect them to fall off the face of the earth.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

BC didn't block UConn. They may have opposed them, but if the other ACC schools wanted them, they would be in.

This is absolutely right. Boston College doesn't have nearly enough sway to blackball anyone.

However, I would not be surprised if they made their opposition known beforehand. I think the old urban legend that they single-handedly blackballed Connecticut is pretty silly if you think about it.

I think the much more reasonable answer is that the ACC wanted a presence up and down the East Coast and to do that they needed to be in the two most heavily populated states in the northeast: Pennsylvania and New York.

Penn State was never going to leave the Big Ten and Temple is not an ACC level program. That put Pitt in a prime position because it gave the ACC a team in Pennsylvania – which is much larger and therefore lucrative than Connecticut.

The ACC brain trust was definitely thinking about a conference television network even then - which is why they added Syracuse in Pitt.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

WVU......something along those lines.

This is pretty accurate as well. I believe that if the ACC had not come calling, Pitt would most likely be in the Big 12 with one or two other former Big East programs. My money would've been on West Virginia in Louisville.

That would've been better than ending up in AAC but not nearly as good as what ultimately happened to us.

And with some of the projections we are seeing with the linear television network, it is becoming increasingly clear that we are going to end up in a much better position financially than West Virginia.

 

[wbrpanther]

Before everyone gets too giddy, remember that our peer competitors in the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC will be making the same money from their conferences, and most of them will be making substantially more gate revenue and have bigger booster donations. The elevator is going up, but we are still lying on its floor. The cost of obtaining and retaining quality coaches and staff is just going up for everyone, recruiting budgets are going up for everyone, and the arms race with facilities just gets faster for everyone.

Not to mention, Pitt still has a real estate problem like no others in the P5 when talking about trying to expand any facilities.

Still night and day compared to being left out of the P5.

 

[Jpripper88]

This is pretty accurate as well. I believe that if the ACC had not come calling, Pitt would most likely be in the Big 12 with one or two other former Big East programs. My money would've been on West Virginia in Louisville.

That would've been better than ending up in AAC but not nearly as good as what ultimately happened to us.

And with some of the projections we are seeing with the linear television network, it is becoming increasingly clear that we are going to end up in a much better position financially than West Virginia.

Agreed. We would be A LOT worse off, but I think we would be ok and at least not in UCONN shape.

 

[NTOP]

That's true too. And before Tennessee, it was Louisiana Tech. I cannot argue with you there.

However, they have built up an incredible infrastructure for women's basketball they should be able to maintain a strong program. I don't know if they'll be winning 100 consecutive games after he retires but I also wouldn't expect them to fall off the face of the earth.

Don't forget the Mighty Macs of Immaculata College.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

To quote the great Keith Van Horn:
"Now that's old school."

 

[CrazyPaco]

Still night and day compared to being left out of the P5.

Absolutely, but we aren't going to win championships or play most of our games, in any sport, against the Group of 5.

The biggest thing about this news is that the ACC is stable and not going anywhere and not falling behind competitors, and thus Pitt's position as a major college athletics program (which it has been continuously for over 100 years) is secure for the near future.

That doesn't mean Pitt can sit back because it still has many, many challenges to be competitive in that top group of 65 power conference schools. It absolutely has to figure out how to grow its revenue and gifts. It has to figure out how to fix many facility and staff deficiencies.

Do people realize Pitt finished dead last last year among the P5 in the NACDA Director's Cup standings (110th) and finished unranked (outside the top 100) with no points in the Capital One Cup? Pitt's athletic department, based on 2015-16 performances, is arguably dead last among the P5 by a good bit. Gate revenue and athletic giving is near the bottom. We are starting from the bottom and we are definitely not there.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

I could not agree more but it is really important to understand that cultures, both good and bad, are created over time, they don't just happen.

The Pitt athletic department bears a lot of responsibility for this situation and any conversation that ignores the part Pitt has played in helping to create this culture of fan apathy and outright disdain misses the mark entirely.

Do the fans need to do better? Of course they do. You never want to be last among all major programs in donations and/or attendance. Also, of course you want your programs to be competitive.

However, people don't see themselves as benefactors, they see themselves as investors. You have to treat them like valued investors.

Does anyone really think the University of Pittsburgh has treated its fans well over the past 20–25 years? If so, please tell me what would possess you to hold such an insane view?

It's not good enough just to throw an invoice out at people every couple of months and say, "Here, fill this out and send your money to the following address."

You reap what you sow.

 

[Swervin27]

I could not agree more but it is really important to understand that cultures, both good and bad, are created over time, they don't just happen.

The Pitt athletic department bears a lot of responsibility for this situation and any conversation that ignores the part Pitt has played in helping to create this culture of fan apathy and outright disdain misses the mark entirely.

Do the fans need to do better? Of course they do. You never want to be last among all major programs in donations and/or attendance. Also, of course you want your programs to be competitive.

However, people don't see themselves as benefactors, they see themselves as investors. You have to treat them like valued investors.

Does anyone really think the University of Pittsburgh has treated its fans well over the past 20–25 years? If so, please tell me what would possess you to hold such an insane view?

It's not good enough just to throw an invoice out at people every couple of months and say, "Here, fill this out and send your money to the following address."

You reap what you sow.

Pitt donations have been bad for 30+ years and instead of prioritizing alumni donations, they continued to rely on one person to reach out to donations for a decade plus. It's on past administrations, not the fans. If it's broke, fix it, don't continue a failed process.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

You seen like you pay attention to the internal workings at Pitt. Why do you think it has been son difficult for Pitt to tap into their alumni for athletic donations? I have my own thoughts but wanted to hear yours. TY

Pitt donations have been bad for 30+ years and instead of prioritizing alumni donations, they continued to rely on one person to reach out to donations for a decade plus. It's on past administrations, not the fans. If it's broke, fix it, don't continue a failed process.

 

[Swervin27]

You seen like you pay attention to the internal workings at Pitt. Why do you think it has been son difficult for Pitt to tap into their alumni for athletic donations? I have my own thoughts but wanted to hear yours. TY

Because they had one broad from kaufmanns doing it for a decade. If donations suck for a very long time, sometimes you have to look at the common denominator.