The branding of "Pitt" on the tv channel guide?

[NMEhail2pitt]

I have Dish Network as my cable provider. Starting last week, I noticed that when I scroll through the channel guide function to see what other games are on tv, I saw that the Miami game was listed at "Pitt vs Miami". Then on Sunday, I saw it was listed as "Pitt vs North Carolina" and last night as "Wake Forest vs Pitt". When you expand the program to show the details it lists "Wake Forest at Pittsburgh", providing the extra level of detail as to who Pitt is.

In the past this was always listed as "Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh" on the main channel guide.

Is this a part of a re-branding of the athletic program to "Pitt" and away from Steve Pederson's Pittsburgh?

 

[ClarkLotTgate]

its probably just laziness on the providers part. It happens all the time, with wrong logos and stuff like that, even on ESPN. I wouldn't read into it too much.

 

[wbrpanther]

I have Dish Network as my cable provider. Starting last week, I noticed that when I scroll through the channel guide function to see what other games are on tv, I saw that the Miami game was listed at "Pitt vs Miami". Then on Sunday, I saw it was listed as "Pitt vs North Carolina" and last night as "Wake Forest vs Pitt". When you expand the program to show the details it lists "Wake Forest at Pittsburgh", providing the extra level of detail as to who Pitt is.

In the past this was always listed as "Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh" on the main channel guide.

Is this a part of a re-branding of the athletic program to "Pitt" and away from Steve Pederson's Pittsburgh?

I doubt the people who label this stuff have a clue re: Pitt or Pittsburgh. By the way, it is the "University of Pittsburgh". I thought we got past this nonsense years ago.

 

[PITTsburghFAN]

I doubt the people who label this stuff have a clue re: Pitt or Pittsburgh. By the way, it is the "University of Pittsburgh". I thought we got past this nonsense years ago.

Unfortunately, wbr, we will NEVER get past it. I advocated for the University to return some emphasis to the reality of "PITTSBURGH" in Pitt. Like the professional sports franchises, our art and museum assets, our rivers, architecture and great history, the University OF PITTsburgh is a civic treasure. Reminding the denizens of this fair region that PITT is, in fact, PITTSBURGH is a good - correction, VERY good - thing

 

[caleco's]

I think this has to do with cook and the pg, they are always up to something to bash Pitt. Maybe the programmer is a nit

 

[CrazyPaco]

Many standardized reporting and writing styles will always dictate that the University of Pittsburgh be referred to as "Pittsburgh"....its a standard thing for many media outlets when shortening any "University of X". No branding will ever change those standardizations where they exist.

 

[Spindler]

We are not Pittsburgh. We are the University of Pittsburgh or Pitt . We are the only Pitt in Pittsburgh unlike the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Brand us nationally as Pitt, it specifies our identity in the sports world, it helps the broadcast media shorten their on air written messages, and it defines the Oakland part of Pittsburgh in who we are.

 

[PITTLAW]

Unfortunately, wbr, we will NEVER get past it. I advocated for the University to return some emphasis to the reality of "PITTSBURGH" in Pitt. Like the professional sports franchises, our art and museum assets, our rivers, architecture and great history, the University OF PITTsburgh is a civic treasure. Reminding the denizens of this fair region that PITT is, in fact, PITTSBURGH is a good - correction, VERY good - thing

Sounds like we still have a few Uncle Stevie Klingons in our midst. LOL. While Pitt is certainly also known as the University of Pittsburgh and the use of either name is perfectly fine. Pitt equals nothing but the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt is a far better brand from an inherent legal and reality based perspective. Say Pitt...and the consumer will think of the University. Say the word Pittsburgh, and it could mean a reference to any of a number of sports teams or the city itself. There is a reason for the short cutting of the name...and it is not just mere convenience. Look to Penn State, UCLA, Cal or any of a number of similar examples and perhaps you will begin to grasp the concept of brand! Hail to Pitt!

 

[wbrpanther]

Sounds like we still have a few Uncle Stevie Klingons in our midst. LOL. While Pitt is certainly also known as the University of Pittsburgh and the use of either name is perfectly fine. Pitt equals nothing but the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt is a far better brand from an inherent legal and reality based perspective. Say Pitt...and the consumer will think of the University. Say the word Pittsburgh, and it could mean a reference to any of a number of sports teams or the city itself. There is a reason for the short cutting of the name...and it is not just mere convenience. Look to Penn State, UCLA, Cal or any of a number of similar examples and perhaps you will begin to grasp the concept of brand! Hail to Pitt!

Whether I see our University referred to as "Pitt" or Pittsburgh", I immediately know who they are referring to so basically this whole conversation in my mind is much ado about nothing.

 

[PITTLAW]

Whether I see our University referred to as "Pitt" or Pittsburgh", I immediately know who they are referring to so basically this whole conversation in my mind is much ado about nothing.

LOL...well you obviously do not understand branding. I'm going to see Pittsburgh play tonight...please advise what I will see when I get there? Question: Who is your favorite sports team? Answer: Pittsburgh. Since you know, which sports team is my favorite team? Hail to Pitt!

 

[MrGee]

Whether I see our University referred to as "Pitt" or Pittsburgh", I immediately know who they are referring to so basically this whole conversation in my mind is much ado about nothing.

You still don't get it

 

[President Stache]

I am one that liked "Pittsburgh" and think we should have black and gold uniforms (to match the city... not the steelers... and because a f'n panther IS black). I mean the st louis cardinals and baltimore Orioles dont wear odd colors.

That being said... the Pitt script is FAAARRRR nicer to see on TV than the block Pitt or block Pittsburgh, and I agree it is OUR brand. And I am all about the branding.

I can see why Peterson, as intellectually deficit as he was did the Pittsburgh thing, but it was an easy way for the nitters to disassociate from the university in the city they love the pro teams in. But Pitt is as Pittsburgh or more actually than is the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, or whoever else. Large populations went to the University of Pittsburgh, and many local kids play football there.

 

[MrGee]

LOL...well you obviously do not understand branding. I'm going to see Pittsburgh play tonight...please advise what I will see when I get there? Question: Who is your favorite sports team? Answer: Pittsburgh. Since you know, which sports team is my favorite team? Hail to Pitt!

Correct

 

[PITTLAW]

I am one that liked "Pittsburgh" and think we should have black and gold uniforms (to match the city... not the steelers... and because a f'n panther IS black). I mean the st louis cardinals and baltimore Orioles dont wear odd colors.

That being said... the Pitt script is FAAARRRR nicer to see on TV than the block Pitt or block Pittsburgh, and I agree it is OUR brand. And I am all about the branding.

I can see why Peterson, as intellectually deficit as he was did the Pittsburgh thing, but it was an easy way for the nitters to disassociate from the university in the city they love the pro teams in. But Pitt is as Pittsburgh or more actually than is the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, or whoever else. Large populations went to the University of Pittsburgh, and many local kids play football there.

The "panther" which Pitt adopted as its mascot was the Eastern Panther, or also sometimes referred to as a mountain lion, puma or cougar. This animal is believed to no longer exist in Pennsylvania since the late 1800's. However, the Pitt Panther was certainly never black. "Black" panthers are actually mutants, to the extent they exist in the United States. A "black panther" is the melanistic color variant of any Panthera species [and many have been bred by the exotic animal industry]. So for the record, a Pitt Panther is certainly not black in color, much like his "cousin" the Nittany Lion. Hail to Pitt!

 

[CrazyPaco]

And one of the reasons the Panther was adopted as the mascot in 1909 was because of "the close approximation of its hue to the old gold of the University's colors (old gold and blue), hence its easy adaptability in decoration."

 

[Ray-Ray]

I doubt the people who label this stuff have a clue re: Pitt or Pittsburgh. By the way, it is the "University of Pittsburgh". I thought we got past this nonsense years ago.

Well, everyone calls the University of Mississippi, Ole Miss now. They have branded that very well. We are Pitt.

 

[VJPITT]

I doubt the people who label this stuff have a clue re: Pitt or Pittsburgh. By the way, it is the "University of Pittsburgh". I thought we got past this nonsense years ago.

You were gravely mistaken.

 

[VJPITT]

The ACC Woman's Swimming Championships have not gotten the memo yet.

Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 617 1. Virginia, University of 897.5 2. North Carolina State Universit 807 3. North Carolina, University of, 733 4. Louisville, University of 707 5. Duke University 441 6. VA Tech 433.5 7. Notre Dame, University of 399.5 8. University of Miami (Florida) 381 9. Florida State University 293 10. Pittsburgh, University of 284 11. Georgia Institute ofTechnology 242.5 12. Boston College 122

 

[PITTLAW]

The ACC Woman's Swimming Championships have not gotten the memo yet.

Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 617 1. Virginia, University of 897.5 2. North Carolina State Universit 807 3. North Carolina, University of, 733 4. Louisville, University of 707 5. Duke University 441 6. VA Tech 433.5 7. Notre Dame, University of 399.5 8. University of Miami (Florida) 381 9. Florida State University 293 10. Pittsburgh, University of 284 11. Georgia Institute ofTechnology 242.5 12. Boston College 122

Better and more relevant question might be what has become of Pitt's swim program? Once an annual powerhouse appears to be in tatters. Such a shame. Hail to Pitt!

 

[CrazyPaco]

Better and more relevant question might be what has become of Pitt's swim program? Once an annual powerhouse appears to be in tatters. Such a shame. Hail to Pitt!

ACC is a fairly big upgrade in S&D. Pitt was never a national power, more like a regional/conference power. For example, the Pitt men' haven't finished in the top 20 nationality since 1953 and haven't been in the top 30 at NCAAs since 2002. Women't haven't finished in the top 30 since 1997.

The women have been down for a while...last Big East title was '91. Men hadn't won it since '04. Two things happened: first ND and then Louisville moved into the Big East and Pitt lost its monopoly on conference titles although it regularly finished in the top 3 to 5. Then Pitt moved to the ACC and found itself looking up from near the bottom.


Current men's rankings are as follows (9 of 11 ACC swim teams ranked in national top 50):
#6 Louisville
#14 NC State
#21 UVA
#29 FSU
#31 GT
#33 Duke
#40 PITT
#42 UNC
#45 ND
(to give you an idea, the only other former Big East teams are #47 UConn, and #48 Cincy)

Current Women's rankings (11 of 12 swim teams ranked in top 50):
#2 UVA
#4 NC State
#9 Louisville
#14 UNC
#19 VT
#32 Duke
#36 ND
#39 FSU
#42 PITT
#44 GT
#50 Miami
(there are no other former Big East teams on the women's side)

That's quite an upgrade in competition.

 

[PHATWOOD]

Swimming and Diving was a good not great program. As all of our olympic sports teams have found, it's tough sledding in the ACC because the schools at the middle and top have mature, robust and fairly wealthy overall programs.

Pitt is faced with this reality - they will have to build better olympic sports facilities, make massive upgrades to existing facilities, hire, pay, and retain better coaches and assistants who are capable of recruiting and winning vs. top level competition. Do nothing and you just become Boston College.

None of that will happen overnight. But it has to happen. I mean our baseball coaches are recruiting against teams that play in stadiums most minor league teams would envy.