If I were younger I would still be going strong from my post game celebration. Now as an old man I raise my glass of wine and I reflect. My reflection is mostly on what it actually takes to be a Pitt fan and my journey with the school.
For those of you probably 55 and older, you were privileged. We got to see touchdown Tony carving up Notre Dame for 300. We got to see the incredible athleticism of Hugh Green and Ricky Jackson. We watched and cheered the acrobatic plays along the sidelines of Gordon Jones, and watched Dan Marino throw darts to Dwight Collins and the Monessen Greyhound. We saw the domination of the line of scrimmage provided by Bill Fralic, Russ Grimm, Jimbo Covert and Rueben Brown and we watched Johnny and Jackie lead us to championships and countless bowl victories.
And that was when going to a bowl actually meant something. there was not a corporate sponsored bowl waiting for any team close to 500, and we were the generation who knew what it is like to HATE State Penn. Sadly, the younger Panther fans have no idea what it was like to see two teams ranked in the top 10 all year play on the day after Thanksgiving. It was every bit as big as Ohio St / Michigan, Alabama/ Auburn or Oklahoma /Texas. I feel sorry for you because I cannot describe how great it was and it was like that for a decade.
Thanks you old piece of trash Joe. And oh yeah, he knew about Sandusky and tried to cover it up so say hi to Satan you old bastard. Your legacy and win total was more important than those boys. It was great to see their interviews and just how badly he and Jackie hated each other.
These are memories that cannot ever be taken from me. If any of you who participated in this are reading this, then truly from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
But being a Pitt fan is so much more than that. We are a maligned group, often criticized by the fact that no one goes to the games or cares about the team. Bullshit! Our own City and their awful media jump on whichever local college sports team is the flavor of the day. No matter if it is the hoopies or the cult, if thy are doing better than Pitt, they toss us in the trash and worry about those other teams that not even located in Pittsburgh. Not if I was their editor.
We will always play second fiddle to the Steelers and that okay. They have earned their due and they are in Pittsburgh, but back to you.
I have sat in the rain, in the snow and even in the 90 degree heat and baking sun and have constantly watched 35-55 thousand show up. So while we may not be able to pack a 100,000 seat stadium, our core of fans is no less loyal than anywhere else in America. It simply is not as large. Our stadium would be packed if it were sized correctly and our atmosphere would be amazing.
I know, I have seen it at Pitt Stadium, I have seen it at Fitzgerald Field house, I have seen it at the Civic Arena, I have seen it at the Pete and I have seen it at Heinz field. We should be playing in PNC park instead of Heinz field and that would be incredible. Sold out every game and loud and fun.
Moreover, I have seen our fans travel, perhaps not as large as others but no less loyal. I was at Neiland stadium and watched Rick Trocano and Pitt hammer Johnny Majors and Tennessee, I was at Bobby Dodd stadium in Atlanta and watched thousands of Pitt fans roar in Pat Narduzzi's first year when we won at the end on a 53 yard field goal.
But being a Pitt fan is also about constantly being let down. We endure and we endure. Then we have a decent record and a big game only to be let down over and over.
Please Be honest, how many of you were waiting for that this year? I was.
And why shouldn't I be? I have seen it and felt the sting over ad over. Being a Pitt fan takes thick skin and being a able to take punishment. I told my father yesterday, who the good Lord has blessed me with 58 years of love for Pitt football and all of the conversations, games, and moments shared together. I yesterday, if we lost, then this season would have been another in the long line of what could have beens.
But Praise God, we didn't lose did we? Nope we won and we won 11 football games, not in 2 years, in one. We are conference Champions and we are going to play in a major bowl. The rug that has been pulled out from under me so many times is still there. We are going to Atlanta and God willing, I will be there. We have an opportunity to finish with 12 wins and a top 10 season. Something I took for granted as a youth but haven't seen in almost 40 years. Some of you reading this have never seen it. But life as a Pitt fan tempered me to appreciate even more now.
My only hope and prayer is that this potentially can be our 1974/75 all over again and the beginning of something incredible. If that happens then my nephews and all the youth in the Pittsburgh area will proudly be able to enjoy what us older guys have, and proudly wear their gear.
For those of you who loyally made this journey with me and who understand and have lived every word I just wrote, I wish I could give you all a hug and raise a glass with you. Never let them get you down and never be embarrassed to say what school you love. Now lets go to Atlanta and kick some ass.
Hail to Pitt
For those of you probably 55 and older, you were privileged. We got to see touchdown Tony carving up Notre Dame for 300. We got to see the incredible athleticism of Hugh Green and Ricky Jackson. We watched and cheered the acrobatic plays along the sidelines of Gordon Jones, and watched Dan Marino throw darts to Dwight Collins and the Monessen Greyhound. We saw the domination of the line of scrimmage provided by Bill Fralic, Russ Grimm, Jimbo Covert and Rueben Brown and we watched Johnny and Jackie lead us to championships and countless bowl victories.
And that was when going to a bowl actually meant something. there was not a corporate sponsored bowl waiting for any team close to 500, and we were the generation who knew what it is like to HATE State Penn. Sadly, the younger Panther fans have no idea what it was like to see two teams ranked in the top 10 all year play on the day after Thanksgiving. It was every bit as big as Ohio St / Michigan, Alabama/ Auburn or Oklahoma /Texas. I feel sorry for you because I cannot describe how great it was and it was like that for a decade.
Thanks you old piece of trash Joe. And oh yeah, he knew about Sandusky and tried to cover it up so say hi to Satan you old bastard. Your legacy and win total was more important than those boys. It was great to see their interviews and just how badly he and Jackie hated each other.
These are memories that cannot ever be taken from me. If any of you who participated in this are reading this, then truly from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
But being a Pitt fan is so much more than that. We are a maligned group, often criticized by the fact that no one goes to the games or cares about the team. Bullshit! Our own City and their awful media jump on whichever local college sports team is the flavor of the day. No matter if it is the hoopies or the cult, if thy are doing better than Pitt, they toss us in the trash and worry about those other teams that not even located in Pittsburgh. Not if I was their editor.
We will always play second fiddle to the Steelers and that okay. They have earned their due and they are in Pittsburgh, but back to you.
I have sat in the rain, in the snow and even in the 90 degree heat and baking sun and have constantly watched 35-55 thousand show up. So while we may not be able to pack a 100,000 seat stadium, our core of fans is no less loyal than anywhere else in America. It simply is not as large. Our stadium would be packed if it were sized correctly and our atmosphere would be amazing.
I know, I have seen it at Pitt Stadium, I have seen it at Fitzgerald Field house, I have seen it at the Civic Arena, I have seen it at the Pete and I have seen it at Heinz field. We should be playing in PNC park instead of Heinz field and that would be incredible. Sold out every game and loud and fun.
Moreover, I have seen our fans travel, perhaps not as large as others but no less loyal. I was at Neiland stadium and watched Rick Trocano and Pitt hammer Johnny Majors and Tennessee, I was at Bobby Dodd stadium in Atlanta and watched thousands of Pitt fans roar in Pat Narduzzi's first year when we won at the end on a 53 yard field goal.
But being a Pitt fan is also about constantly being let down. We endure and we endure. Then we have a decent record and a big game only to be let down over and over.
Please Be honest, how many of you were waiting for that this year? I was.
And why shouldn't I be? I have seen it and felt the sting over ad over. Being a Pitt fan takes thick skin and being a able to take punishment. I told my father yesterday, who the good Lord has blessed me with 58 years of love for Pitt football and all of the conversations, games, and moments shared together. I yesterday, if we lost, then this season would have been another in the long line of what could have beens.
But Praise God, we didn't lose did we? Nope we won and we won 11 football games, not in 2 years, in one. We are conference Champions and we are going to play in a major bowl. The rug that has been pulled out from under me so many times is still there. We are going to Atlanta and God willing, I will be there. We have an opportunity to finish with 12 wins and a top 10 season. Something I took for granted as a youth but haven't seen in almost 40 years. Some of you reading this have never seen it. But life as a Pitt fan tempered me to appreciate even more now.
My only hope and prayer is that this potentially can be our 1974/75 all over again and the beginning of something incredible. If that happens then my nephews and all the youth in the Pittsburgh area will proudly be able to enjoy what us older guys have, and proudly wear their gear.
For those of you who loyally made this journey with me and who understand and have lived every word I just wrote, I wish I could give you all a hug and raise a glass with you. Never let them get you down and never be embarrassed to say what school you love. Now lets go to Atlanta and kick some ass.
Hail to Pitt
