Thoughts of Kinnick Pitt fans?
- Thread starter Earvin32
- Start date
we traveled to the game.... first, pulled in Hanschin parking lot, four students standing in a space, we asked if we could park there, they all moved and were very friendly - in spite of my Pitt car flags. I said " if this was Morgantown, (WVU) they'd be throwing rocks at me. One responded " welcome to Iowa City".
Inside the stadium, an older Iowa fan came up and said "welcome to Kinnick". Overall, a very good experience. Only problem I had was our (Pitt) cheerleaders were in the opposite corner of the stadium where there were no Pitt fans.
The band playing Hail to Pitt was a nice touch as well.
Wish we could continue this as a regular series...
Inside the stadium, an older Iowa fan came up and said "welcome to Kinnick". Overall, a very good experience. Only problem I had was our (Pitt) cheerleaders were in the opposite corner of the stadium where there were no Pitt fans.
The band playing Hail to Pitt was a nice touch as well.
Wish we could continue this as a regular series...
Not trying to butter you up, but one of the best away games I've ever been to. I even bought my kids Iowa football shirts after the game. I did not have one single bad comment and everyone was very nice. I've been to about 20 away Pitt games and this was one of the best experiences.
Good people over there
Good people over there
Was welcomed several times by fans slapping me on the back saying "welcome to Iowa....Good luck" Couple of students were idiots but that was to be expected. Very nice experience.
Failed to describe the students properly - probably drunk. Iowa is the #2 party school according to several sources.. Glad you had a good time other than the game's outcome.
I don't think Pitt fan or players are going to see a more impressive atmosphere as Kinnick at all this year, home or away. Maybe VA tech, but that was the most awesome display of support i've seen on TV in this early season. Iowa was really amped to see Pitt in the night game. I like playing Iowa, always seems to be a battle and they look like the Steelers, which boggles the mind when they are in Heinz. I WISH WE WERE IN THE BIG 10. oh well.
I would take PITT right now and let that dumpster fire that is Rutgers go.
honestly it looked like a dump on TV. the lighting for the field was fine but the stands looked dim and dumpy past about halfway up. get some more lights on the seats and it would look 10x better in my opinion. i don't like stands in deep shadow. stadiums look bigger and more impressive in my opinion when all the seating sections are lit up as much as the field is, or close anyway. i do like the DESIGN of the stadium but it needs more lights to make it pop.
I wasn't there this year, but traveled out there 4 years ago when we played you guys. I have to echo what everyone said here, it was a great atmosphere and the fans were fantastic.
I've been to like 25 away venues, and I have to rank ND, Iowa and Navy as my favorite experiences.
I've been to like 25 away venues, and I have to rank ND, Iowa and Navy as my favorite experiences.
I for one would love to continue this series if possible. Two good fanbases that know football and like the style that Pitt plays. Played tough and there was some big time hitting going on out there.
Would have much rather had you in the Big 10 than they ones they brought in. Good luck the rest of the way!
Would have much rather had you in the Big 10 than they ones they brought in. Good luck the rest of the way!
If I had to rank, I say Iowa has had the 2nd best fans behind Texas A&M. Obviously friendly and welcoming, they were also surprisingly knowledgable about Pitt considering we are an out-of-conference opponent.
I'd put Iowa with aTm and Navy as one of the most enjoyable game experiences. In some ways similar to aTm, but without the innumerable, crazy traditions and no corp of cadets.
I'd put Iowa with aTm and Navy as one of the most enjoyable game experiences. In some ways similar to aTm, but without the innumerable, crazy traditions and no corp of cadets.
I didn't like your scoreboard. It showed your Hawks beating Pitt when the clock was at 0:00!
I can say I LOVE Hawkeye-Carver arena. I wrestled at Edinboro and have been to your arena a few times for meets and nationals. That was an incredible place to wrestle! I have never been anywhere else that compares.
I'd say that the ACC has been a major step up in the class of destinations.
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I've done the Iowa trip twice now and it was a great experience both times, save for the game outcome. A couple of random thoughts:
1. Iowa fans are very nice. I wanted to tailgate halfway between the stadium and my hotel so we picked the Mytle lot which I was told was a pretty big party lot. It was in fact that and we were the only Pitt fans in the lot, but the people could not have been nicer.
2. Great atmosphere. A little surprised the place wasn't fully packed as it was 4 years ago when we played up there. Crowd was rocking, especially at the end with the miracle kick.
3. Kinnick is great, but it has some quirks that are frustrating. You literally cannot get anywhere in the concourse at halftime. I've never seen more people line up for food at halftime. It was mind blowing.
4. Enjoyed the bar scene Friday night despite downpours. The Iowa band played in the bar for 15 minutes and the kids were just going nuts. Very cool. Also loved getting some DP Dough, which is a hidden gem I had in college that I crave without access to.
5. The guy who led the team out of the tunnel was very inpirational. Also enjoyed the farming facts and the ANF stuff at first, then they got a bit old...I get it...Iowa is top 5 in pretty much everything that can be grown on a farm.
6. Poor showing by the Pitt fans as far as total numbers. Maybe 200 at most. Those there were loud, but mostly friends and family. I remember more fans at the 2011 game. Tough trip from Pgh though.
7. This isn't a knock on the people because it's simply in line with the demographics of the state, but I'm not sure you could find a less ethnically diverse fan base anywhere. Maybe Nebraska.
Overall, great experience and would love to play them again there (selfishly because it's a pretty easy trip from Chicago). Loved how our team grew in the second half but dissappointed we couldn't pull out the game. Biggest play of the game was our last kick off...pin them deep and Iowa may not even attempt to move into field goal range.
Thank you Hawkeyes for a good trip
I've never been to Iowa, but from the descriptions it sounds pretty much as nice and friendly as Navy, Virginia, and Notre Dame. Those three are my favorite away venues.
Duke was okay, but the Duke crowd lacked the enthusiasm as the others that I mentioned.
The only negative experience that I've ever had was at..............WVU. (Say what you want about a West Virginia education, but the Hoopies have clearly studied their nursery rhymes. Especially the one: "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me." They didn't even bother to call us names - they went straight to the "good stuff" and pelted us with rocks.)
Duke was okay, but the Duke crowd lacked the enthusiasm as the others that I mentioned.
The only negative experience that I've ever had was at..............WVU. (Say what you want about a West Virginia education, but the Hoopies have clearly studied their nursery rhymes. Especially the one: "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me." They didn't even bother to call us names - they went straight to the "good stuff" and pelted us with rocks.)
I enjoyed the trip completely, other than the final outcome of the football game. Your fans are some of the nicest I have experienced anywhere. People introduced themselves, bought me drinks, offered to take me tailgating, and were as nice and blonde as any fan base I have ever met. Being an East Coast guy, the friendliness was almost unsettling. Other than the way over used "go Hawks" that they all repeated continually, not any complaints about your fans.
The stadium is a very nice, traditional college stadium. Ingress/egress is pretty challenging, especially when you are in row 6 in section 104 [which were great seats for visitors]. But took nearly 45 minutes to exit the stadium and was impossible to get in or out during halftime. Was nice to breeze into the stadium without emptying my pockets or being strip searched. Scoreboard is a bit weird...was tough to find down/distance and score frequently. Your fans also have that annoying habit of standing--which would get them killed in Pittsburgh. Spirit, noise levels and coordinated color dressing all get very high marks from me.
Friday and Saturday on College Street were also quite a bit of fun. Bars and restaurants were bumping and patrons were more than friendly. Frankly, Iowa City is a great college town. Enjoyed brunch at the Pullman Bar & Diner on Sunday [went four years ago and remembered the great food and service]. Other than being a tough place to travel to since there are virtually no non-stop flights, I'd rank it as a top 20 college football destination. Good luck the rest of the way. Hail to Pitt!
Never been for a game but my daughter was a scholarship track athlete for PSU and we were in Iowa City for the Big Ten Indoor T&F Championships her Freshman year. The indoor track was close to Kinnick and I liked the vibe. In fact Iowa City was a really great college town. It surprised me to be honest.
I'd argue it's for people of all ages (and no, I do not work for them)! Because it's delicious. We had it where I went to school in upstate NY and my wife had it at her school (Ohio U), so when we found out there was one in Iowa City, we took the entire family including my 66 year old father. Everyone loved it. Because it's delicious.
It also happens to be the perfect thing to eat if you're up at 3:00 AM, but it is also pretty good at 6:30 PM. Wish it was in more than just college towns so I could indulge more often, but it is a perfect concept for a college town.
Ingress/egress is
This. Sat in 108. Ingress/egress is terrible into and out of the stadium. The concourses are way too limited to serve the entire stadium.
I would absolutely love for the Hawks to play at one of the service academies. I have been to all three campuses but never for a football game. Would love to go.
I've been to West Point and the Naval Academy for games - it is magnificent at both places but Annapolis by far is the better destination IMHO.
For college towns (not city schools which aren't a fair comparison), I would give it up to Charlottesville as a top destination. A ton of stuff to do there for a relatively rural area with all the wineries, cideries, Monticello, Montpelier, and Ash Lawn.
My son and I had a great time in Iowa City. We even got to park for free at Finkbine golf course. It was a very easy walk to the stadium and tons of people were partying along the way. I really enjoyed the live band that was playing at someones house on the way to the stadium. As I mentioned in a previous post, the people were very nice and also my son and I were amazed at how many blonde girls there are in Iowa. Thanks for a great time.
I was at the game in Pitt a few years ago on business (extended my stay to attend the game). Pitt fans were kick ass. We had nothing with us and the Pitt fans invited us to tailgate with them. I was also at the game this past weekend. As I expected, the Pitt fans were absolutely lights out. We invited every Pitt fan that walked by to join out tailgate party. They all commented on how "crazy" tailgating was at Iowa and I think they enjoyed themselves. In the stadium no matter how insane the Iowa fans got Pitt's fans would start a chant to support their boys. It was awesome. I agree with a previous poster that it sucked with Pitt's cheerleaders being located at the opposite end of the field, but it didn't stop them.. Even after the loss Pitt fans were first class. I'm sad to see this series end. All four games have been nail biters and I'll miss the trash talk with my buddies in Pittsburgh. Hail to Pitt! You guys are freaking awesome.
I think a lot of non midwestern folks are surprised by what they find in iowa. There are lots of preconceived notions and stereotypes.
We always hear from our coaches and fans that if we can just get recruits to visit, they will fall in love and that happens a lot. It's safe, it's clean, the people are nice and there is much more to look at (in many ways) than outsiders ever imagined.
Unfortunately I was unable to go, but would have loved to as everything I've heard about Iowa and the experience there was awesome! Met a lot of great Iowa fans at the 2008 and 2014 games, and just great, knowledgeable college football fans.
A frustrating as these last three games for us Pitt fans have been, it has been a very enjoyable series with a great program. Really would love to continue the series and makes me wish we were in the B10 as well. I like the ACC don't get me wrong, but it just feels like we have more in common football wise (forget the land grant school thing) with many of these programs.
Thanks Hawk fans, this Pitt fan will be rooting for you guys the rest of the year!
Hail to Pitt!!!!
A frustrating as these last three games for us Pitt fans have been, it has been a very enjoyable series with a great program. Really would love to continue the series and makes me wish we were in the B10 as well. I like the ACC don't get me wrong, but it just feels like we have more in common football wise (forget the land grant school thing) with many of these programs.
Thanks Hawk fans, this Pitt fan will be rooting for you guys the rest of the year!
Hail to Pitt!!!!
Guess it depends what you like. Charlottesville, at least based upon my several visits, is not such a happening college town. Try to find a bar with a television to watch sports downtown on the mall...practically non-existent. If you like preppy or granola, then Charlottesville is likely your cup of green tea. Although a pleasant and "pretty" town, not exactly a party place--unless you get into the frats, etc. I'd take Iowa City any day over Charlottesville. Hail to Pitt!
I have to admit Souf, we were a bit let down when we visited Chapel Hill last year. It is a beautiful campus, but not much to do, at all. But then maybe that is unfair since we were staying in Raleigh and didn't spend much time on campus.
