Just some interesting things I thought I'd post in case you didn't want to watch the presser on the bowl website
- First off, Randy Levine, what a boring guy. He is the President of the New York Yankees but he is so dull and boring, I wouldn't hire him for an AD job though a college AD is more of a sales job than President of an MLB team.
- the New Era guy said something like "ticket sales so far are maybe, maybe stronger than they've ever been." He was overhyping the game but predicted a sellout. I wouldn't bet on that because ND/Rutgers didn't sell out so I cant imagine Pitt/NW would. They were 2K shy. The only sellout was PSU/BC
- Pat Fitzgerald and the Northwestern AD were talking Pitt up (obviously as that's what you do at these things) and one of them (don't remember who) said Pitt was just a few plays away from the College Football Playoff.....and he's right.
- I didn't realize Fitzgerald and Narduzzi were so close. Narduzzi said he called Fitzgerald after landing the Pitt job to get advice on running practices, leading a program, etc and the 2 seem like good friends.
- The most interesting thing to me was that one of the Yankee/Bowl officials, said Scott Barnes was understably upset after a meeting with them a year ago, not understanding why Pitt wasn't selected. This guy said they had concerns (though didn't specifically say ticket sales) but said Barnes said they would prove them wrong, then the guy said "did you ever prove us wrong." Again, not specifically talking about tickets but implying it, the guy was saying things about how Barnes energized and mobilized a fanbase and made them take notice.
- I didn't realize that Barnes and Narduzzi met with Pinstripe Bowl officials at a Yankee game in the summer, making their case in advance for the game. They said Narduzzi said this year, "We will leave you no choice" but to take Pitt. I mean, that's funny to say because you never strive for a bowl like this but its just part of their sales job I guess.
- References were made to Pitt's ticket selling efforts thus far in a very positive way. Everyone seemed pleased with what Pitt had done so far.
- Narduzzi said they had a good idea they would be invited on Friday and the players were very excited. As much as you want to bash the thought of a cold-weather bowl game, for many people, NYC is the best city on the planet and the idea of a free vacation around the Holidays for these players doesn't get much better.
- I didn't realized Pitt played the first-ever college football game at Yankee Stadium in the 20s, which they won and also beat Army in 1962 so Barnes joked they would stay undefeated at Yankee Stadium. That is a really random fact. Like the one where a Pitt game at MSG was the first-ever televised college basketball game.
- The players and coaches will attend the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Celebration on Christmas Night. Pitt gets there the 23rd. Narduzzi said they'd have 10 practices including 3 in NY. The teams are using Columbia, Fordham, and Hofstra. That didn't seem like many practices to me but Pitt is taking this week of for Finals. The one drawback though is practicing outdoors in what could be 20-30 degree weather.
- NW will visit Sloan-Kettering. Pitt will hold a chalk talk for Bronx youth. The teams will go ice skating at the Trump rink in Central Park. I've walked past that a bunch of times but didn't know it was Trump's. I wonder if any players on either side will boycott it like some professional athletes and teams have chosen not to stay at Trump properties. Seems like the officials should have avoided that rink and thought of something else to do as it wouldn't be good for players to make headlines for boycotting something like that.
- An overall feel I had is that Barnes really put himself out there with this. He wanted this game bad and he is trying to change the perception of Pitt fans. As I'm watching it, I'm thinking that I hope Barnes didn't oversell us to them as he has been known to oversell things
But some of the comments made by the officials made it seem like Pitt was a traveling juggernaut. Lets hope we don't disappoint.
- First off, Randy Levine, what a boring guy. He is the President of the New York Yankees but he is so dull and boring, I wouldn't hire him for an AD job though a college AD is more of a sales job than President of an MLB team.
- the New Era guy said something like "ticket sales so far are maybe, maybe stronger than they've ever been." He was overhyping the game but predicted a sellout. I wouldn't bet on that because ND/Rutgers didn't sell out so I cant imagine Pitt/NW would. They were 2K shy. The only sellout was PSU/BC
- Pat Fitzgerald and the Northwestern AD were talking Pitt up (obviously as that's what you do at these things) and one of them (don't remember who) said Pitt was just a few plays away from the College Football Playoff.....and he's right.
- I didn't realize Fitzgerald and Narduzzi were so close. Narduzzi said he called Fitzgerald after landing the Pitt job to get advice on running practices, leading a program, etc and the 2 seem like good friends.
- The most interesting thing to me was that one of the Yankee/Bowl officials, said Scott Barnes was understably upset after a meeting with them a year ago, not understanding why Pitt wasn't selected. This guy said they had concerns (though didn't specifically say ticket sales) but said Barnes said they would prove them wrong, then the guy said "did you ever prove us wrong." Again, not specifically talking about tickets but implying it, the guy was saying things about how Barnes energized and mobilized a fanbase and made them take notice.
- I didn't realize that Barnes and Narduzzi met with Pinstripe Bowl officials at a Yankee game in the summer, making their case in advance for the game. They said Narduzzi said this year, "We will leave you no choice" but to take Pitt. I mean, that's funny to say because you never strive for a bowl like this but its just part of their sales job I guess.
- References were made to Pitt's ticket selling efforts thus far in a very positive way. Everyone seemed pleased with what Pitt had done so far.
- Narduzzi said they had a good idea they would be invited on Friday and the players were very excited. As much as you want to bash the thought of a cold-weather bowl game, for many people, NYC is the best city on the planet and the idea of a free vacation around the Holidays for these players doesn't get much better.
- I didn't realized Pitt played the first-ever college football game at Yankee Stadium in the 20s, which they won and also beat Army in 1962 so Barnes joked they would stay undefeated at Yankee Stadium. That is a really random fact. Like the one where a Pitt game at MSG was the first-ever televised college basketball game.
- The players and coaches will attend the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Celebration on Christmas Night. Pitt gets there the 23rd. Narduzzi said they'd have 10 practices including 3 in NY. The teams are using Columbia, Fordham, and Hofstra. That didn't seem like many practices to me but Pitt is taking this week of for Finals. The one drawback though is practicing outdoors in what could be 20-30 degree weather.
- NW will visit Sloan-Kettering. Pitt will hold a chalk talk for Bronx youth. The teams will go ice skating at the Trump rink in Central Park. I've walked past that a bunch of times but didn't know it was Trump's. I wonder if any players on either side will boycott it like some professional athletes and teams have chosen not to stay at Trump properties. Seems like the officials should have avoided that rink and thought of something else to do as it wouldn't be good for players to make headlines for boycotting something like that.
- An overall feel I had is that Barnes really put himself out there with this. He wanted this game bad and he is trying to change the perception of Pitt fans. As I'm watching it, I'm thinking that I hope Barnes didn't oversell us to them as he has been known to oversell things
But some of the comments made by the officials made it seem like Pitt was a traveling juggernaut. Lets hope we don't disappoint.
