I heard she walked into the Chancellor's office with a MSPaint rendering and was fired on the spot.
Wow. Lyke fired as ad
- Thread starter ThePanthers
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Houston fired their popular AD earlier this year. The former AD guided them into the Big 12 and was a former Houston football player. Football is struggling but is a new conference. Basketball is rolling. So why did he get fired? He wasn't raising enough money. It's all about the money now with paying players.
If Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina find a way to bolt before 2035, the ACC may look a lot like the Big East near the end.
I don’t disagree, but if that is all that leave, the Big 12 is still a lateral move IMO. Unless there is a big 2 invite to be had, there is no point in looking to go to another conference.
just reading through comments, and one thing I take away, we are fd.
For years I’ve read “I won’t donate because Pitt won’t spend and make a commitment.”
So now Pitt is spending into a larger deficit, and yet it still seems we aren’t donating to keep with the spend we all want.
And now with nil, I’ve read over and over “I’m not donating to pay college players”.
There just doesn’t seem to ever be an appetite to do what is necessary to keep up with big time college athletics.
For years I’ve read “I won’t donate because Pitt won’t spend and make a commitment.”
So now Pitt is spending into a larger deficit, and yet it still seems we aren’t donating to keep with the spend we all want.
And now with nil, I’ve read over and over “I’m not donating to pay college players”.
There just doesn’t seem to ever be an appetite to do what is necessary to keep up with big time college athletics.
I’m a firm believer that once the big brands leave the acc, you will have a move of the next of the best to the big xii, and hopefully Pitt is part of that.
Neither Pitt, nor TCU has been relevant since they parted ways. Neither has sniffed the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. I don't think either side is losing sleep over the breakup.
Honestly, I know this topic is beating a dead horse, but what if the new AD had a strict priority on the revenue generating sports football and basketball. Pitt finally commits to winning in those sports, I’d be more inclined to give more. Maybe others feel the same way.
So the new athletic director will be a private eye tasked with compiling compromising photographs of all of the Big 10 or SEC presidents?
There's no on-campus stadium talk anywhere that I've ever heard, except by a few fringe fans. I don't know where that came from. Whoever in the administration would be talking about an on-campus stadium should be fired.
It's not just the big football brands. I'm hearing UNC, and both Virginia schools want out of the ACC.
99% of truth regarding women seems chauvinistic to the modern man. I worked for evil incarnate at PNC years ago. This woman was more sociopathic than any man I've ever met. Don't feel bad for speaking truthfully.
There's a 0% chance the decision of who to hire as the next leader of the university was influenced in any way by a potential need to fire a female AD at some point.
Well when you are very slow to NIL.
You do a poor job at fundraising.
You do a poor job at building supporters.
Your victory heights project is 95 percent financed by debt and may bankrupt the university.
Your athletic program is heavily subsidized and must borrow money from the general fund each year to show the public you broke even.
You didn’t hire two of Pitts best coaches.
You extended some of the worst ones.
Your baseball, women’s basketball and softball hires.
Finishing in the bottom of the acc every year in the directors cup and near dead last in all of P5.
I think this was an easy decision based on performance alone.
You do a poor job at fundraising.
You do a poor job at building supporters.
Your victory heights project is 95 percent financed by debt and may bankrupt the university.
Your athletic program is heavily subsidized and must borrow money from the general fund each year to show the public you broke even.
You didn’t hire two of Pitts best coaches.
You extended some of the worst ones.
Your baseball, women’s basketball and softball hires.
Finishing in the bottom of the acc every year in the directors cup and near dead last in all of P5.
I think this was an easy decision based on performance alone.
The new AD must know how to run a business and make money
The new AD must be able to make Pitt football attractive enough to receive an invite to the inevitable super conference.
That’s the vision that Heather lacked.
The new AD must be able to make Pitt football attractive enough to receive an invite to the inevitable super conference.
That’s the vision that Heather lacked.
LOL, all major capital projects are financed by debt. It is in no way going to "bankrupt" the university. That is major stupid talk. And the university and BOT committed to financing the project in January 2020 regardless of fundraising.
There are things to criticize. Victory Heights isn't one of them, and if it is, you can point fingers just as much at Gallagher and the board.
And Pitt has subsidized athletics every year since forever. That isn't new. And that isn't going to change if Pitt wants to be a FBS program.
She did keep two of Pitt's best coaches, and one from serious poaching attempts from more historically prestigious programs.
And OMG, pointing out director's cup finishes (which are still not great but among Pitt's best ever) and criticizing Victory Heights project in the same post! That takes some special mental gymnastics.
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Most capital projects are NOT financed or green lit unless there is a major commitment from public or private donations.
Do you want Pitt to have the same fate as both Maryland and Rutgers. Both bit off far more than they could chew.
Heather was known as the drunken sailor. Look at her time at eastern Michigan. Now look at how the bottle has followed her here.
Pitt had no chance for the eventual super league with her as leader. Pitt would have hit an iceberg and sunk fast. Best to remove her now from the helm.
Next AD will need to cut programs to right the ship.
Or like the current B12
Can only cut one and stay D1. That ain't it.
What are the major commitments from public and private donations for the following ongoing construction projects?
Student Recreation Center ($250 million)
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences ($230 million)
Hillman Library Renovation ($130 million)
BioForge ($120 million)... this one has $100m from the Richard King Mellon Foundation so I answered that for you.
Crawford Hall renovation ($75 million)
Pittsburgh Athletic Association building inquisition ($34 million)
Eatery renovation ($27.5 million)
Thaw Hall roof replacement ($14 million)
Heinz Chapel fleche rennovation ($11.5 million)
Alumni Hall renovation ($8 million)
BST3 biocontainment lab ($7.5 million)
That doesn't even get into the regional campus projects.
Total commonwealth construction grants in FY 2023: $13.4 million. So no, almost none of this is coming from public sources. Almost all of it is all coming from operation reserves and Pitt-issued debt, which is entirely normal.
What actions could Pitt take that would convince you that they are committed to winning in FB and BB?
Appreciate your contributions as always, Paco, but what the heck is an Eatery renovation at $27.5 million? And assuming that is some kind of cafeteria or food court, how in the world could it cost $27.5 million? I'm guessing it must be something else, but I can't imagine what.
BTW, the atmosphere at Towers Cafeteria when I was a student was dungeon-like, and the food wasn't much better. Fortunately there was always pizza and Cap 'n Crunch. The food options for students today -- at all universities -- are more like a country club than a college.
Of course, there aren't any such actions.
If they don't win big, as all other 70 power conference schools are simultaneously attempting to do, then one can sit on their wallet because the anthropomorphized "University" won't demonstrate commitment...unless as in some boasts there is some unrealistic goal obtained, like an on-campus stadium... so their illusionary donation is safe and sound.
But then if they win big...the "University" has all the money in the world, then they don't need mine. Look at that $5 billion endowment!
It is the same people pinning for the days of the Golden Panthers but really for others to spend someone else's money. It's been a problem for decades. Well guess what, the Golden Panthers are back and it is legal and it is call Alliance 412 and they're begging for people to help with the bags of money. There is no excuse. Don't like NIL, then donate to the athletic department. Don't like the "University," well now you have Alliance 412. One either cares or they don't.
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Unless they end up in the B12
When were you there. Early 2000s I thought it was pretty nice. They always had a make your own Grilled Chicken salad station that was on point. I actually miss that place sometimes haha.
It looks like that is the location of The Eatery though.
The New Eatery
www.theeateryatpitt.com
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Yep, $27.5 large.
Pitt aims to create a 'community hub' with dining hall renovation
The largest dining facility on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation that will bring new dining and...
www.post-gazette.com
The New Eatery
www.theeateryatpitt.com
Timeline — The New Eatery
www.theeateryatpitt.com
Late 80's. It was classic cafeteria fare served by lunch ladies. I would eat anything at that age, so it was fine by me, but definitely institutional.Unless they end up in the B12
When were you there. Early 2000s I thought it was pretty nice. They always had a make your own Grilled Chicken salad station that was on point. I actually miss that place sometimes haha.
It looks like that is the location of The Eatery though.
The New Eatery
Thanks for the link. That looks like a tremendous improvement. But still...$27.5 million?
That adds to just a shade under $800M in new projects funded by debt. Interest alone on that amount would be roughly $48M (assuming about 6% cost of money). That doesn't include principal repayment (which I assume would be amortized over 30 years for a capital project). That's a lot of debt service over the next 30 years. Obviously, only a small portion is related to athletics but the overall debt burden to the University is going up significantly if these projects aren't funded in some way other than debt.
Pitt issued $275 million in new bonds in 2023 to help fund these projects. 20 year maturity. It last issued bonds in 2019.
Again, not all is debt financed. Some is from the budget or operational reserves. Pitt currently has $1.4 billion in issued bonds. About $280m in debt matured in FY2024.
Pitt's credit rating by Moody's is Aa1 and AA+ by S&P.
The university is very healthy. It is night and day where it was 30 years ago.
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you have just explained the difference between Pitt & the SEC. In the SEC, when things start tanking the boosters and/or fans come together and ask how much is needed to buy out this loser coach and set things right? At Pitt, it is I'm not donating until things are right.
Of course the people that say that aren't donating until they see a "commitment" to winning will never give anyways.
The former Arizona AD is still looking for a job, maybe someplace in Pennsylvania.
Arizona parts ways with athletic director Dave Heeke, naming Mike Candrea as interim
The University of Arizona faces a change in leadership as athletic director Dave Heeke is out amidst financial turmoil. With a $240 million budget shortfall, former softball coach Mike Candrea steps in as interim AD, sparking questions about the future of Wildcats’ sports programs and their...
wildcat.arizona.edu
