Zeise on the Pitt/RMU tiff

[Sean Miller Fan]

RMU sucks this year so its probably a good thing we aren't playing them but they are usually a pretty reliable good RPI team. That combined with the fact that they are local and we've played them almost every year dor a few decades has made it seem strange that the 2 teams no longer play.

Well, in an interview with Filliponi, Zeise confirmed what I thought was the reason and posted on this board. Its a financial disagreement. The 2 teams cant agree on RMU's appearance fee. Since they are local and only require a bus ride and no hotel rooms, Pitt probably doesnt want to pay RMU much feeling RMU needs the game more and should just be happy to play us. RMU is saying, "eff that," we'll bus to Cincy and pick up $80K" instead. Truthfully, I dont know what the going rate is for hometown teams so its hard to say who is being more bullheaded here.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

RMU take the freaking bus to Ohio and I hope its a Greyhound.
I hate U's with two first names as their name.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

I like RMU and wish them well. But in this particular case let me go to Cincy. Or wherever. Who cares.

 

[ameoba defense]

Take the freaking bus to Ohio and I hope its a Greyhound.
I hate U's with two first names as their name.

You do know that Robert Morris was an actual person don't you? Plus, while there are people who have Morris as a first name, it's much more common as a surname.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I like RMU and wish them well. But in this particular case let me go to Cincy. Or wherever. Who cares.

FWIW, Cincy was an example. RMU plays a certain number of paycheck games and would rather bus or fly to play a team other than Pitt because they feel they will make more money off it compared to what Pitt is offering.

 

[Pghfan]

I get both sides of the argument honestly. Not like this is a big deal, I mean let's not build this up as some sort of travesty. I doubt Pitt or its fans circle the calendar for rmu and would assume rmu and its fans will somehow survive not playing Pitt either

 

[Pittbaseball11]

I get both sides of the argument honestly. Not like this is a big deal, I mean let's not build this up as some sort of travesty. I doubt Pitt or its fans circle the calendar for rmu and would assume rmu and its fans will somehow survive not playing Pitt either

When it comes to complaining about/focusing on things that are totally inconsequential (yet sometimes still used as excuses to justify poor support), Pittsburgh's creativity in identifying targets is unmatched.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I get both sides of the argument honestly. Not like this is a big deal, I mean let's not build this up as some sort of travesty. I doubt Pitt or its fans circle the calendar for rmu and would assume rmu and its fans will somehow survive not playing Pitt either

Yea, I think there are only like 10 people who care that they dont play, me being one, but its long down the list of schedule fixes I'd like to see. It just seems a little silly that they dont. I dont think the RMU game adds any value to a season ticket package but maybe a few thousand more season ticket holders actually show up instead of sitting out another home game.

If/when RMU gets a new arena, I'd like to maybe see a 4 for 1 deal.....or perhaps RMU playing their home game against us at CEC like how Oakland plays home games against MSU at the Pistons' arena.

 

[MajorMajors]

I thought Scott Barnes said that he wants to have more local rivalry games, so I expect to see RMU on the schedule soon.

RMU seems to find the deal with Duquesne acceptable. Surely a compromise can be reached on the payout from Pitt.

Go Pitt.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Doesn't it appear that everything is always about $ . It's not all about the students and student athletes experiences it's all about $. Two words describe college athletics BIG BUSINESS.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

RMU seems to find the deal with Duquesne acceptable. Surely a compromise can be reached on the payout from Pitt.

Well of course they do. Because their deal with Duquesne is a home and home series. That series has been played at Robert Morris every other year since they resumed playing in the 03-04 season. Just a hunch, they'd take a home and home deal with Pitt too if we offered them one.

Fortunately that isn't going to happen.

 

[DT_PITT]

Well of course they do. Because their deal with Duquesne is a home and home series. That series has been played at Robert Morris every other year since they resumed playing in the 03-04 season. Just a hunch, they'd take a home and home deal with Pitt too if we offered them one.

Fortunately that isn't going to happen.

All other things being equal, I'd rather play RMU as one of our cupcakes as opposes to say, Central Arkansas. I like Robert Morris and follow them fairly closely.

Having said this, just now typing this post is about the most thought I've even given to the subject.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I thought Scott Barnes said that he wants to have more local rivalry games, so I expect to see RMU on the schedule soon.

RMU seems to find the deal with Duquesne acceptable. Surely a compromise can be reached on the payout from Pitt.

Go Pitt.

Maybe, but most Pitt fans really dont care about RMU. I wouldn't give RMU a sweetheart deal just to play them. If Pitt is paying these teams 80-100 to come in, paying RMU 25-50 to bus over seems about right but I have no idea.

 

[ameoba defense]

Seems like it would be fair to subtract the travel costs for the average cupcake from the fee they normally pay, and offer RMU the remainder. I don't think RMU should get the same total fee as a team that has to come in from out of town, but I don't see why after expenses, they shouldn't end up with the same amount of dollars as any other cupcake would. In other words, if Central Arkansas is left with $50,000 after all expenses are paid, that's what RMU should be offered. If RMU wants more, screw them. If Pitt is offering less, stop being cheap.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

Doesn't it appear that everything is always about $ . It's not all about the students and student athletes experiences it's all about $. Two words describe college athletics BIG BUSINESS.

For these small schools it has to be about money. The money they make from games like this covers equipment, recruiting, salaries, etc.
my wife is friends with a small d1 school HC that plays Alabama every year. That game is too important because it finances the program for a long time. It allows them to survive financially.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

You do know that Robert Morris was an actual person don't you? Plus, while there are people who have Morris as a first name, it's much more common as a surname.

Correct!
Born in Liverpool England in 1734 and died in Philly in 1806.
Signer of the Declaration of Independence and represented PA in the Continental Congress and was a financier of the American Revolution.

I still dislike U's that have a name that sounds like two first names.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

All other things being equal, I'd rather play RMU as one of our cupcakes as opposes to say, Central Arkansas. I like Robert Morris and follow them fairly closely.

Right. But we aren't offering them the same deal Duquesne did, we'd be idiots to do so. It actually kind of surprises me a little bit and shows exactly how far down the basketball food chain Duquesne has slipped that they happily agree to play a full home and home with Robert Morris, and have for over a decade.

 

[Franb]

Seems like it would be fair to subtract the travel costs for the average cupcake from the fee they normally pay, and offer RMU the remainder. I don't think RMU should get the same total fee as a team that has to come in from out of town, but I don't see why after expenses, they shouldn't end up with the same amount of dollars as any other cupcake would. In other words, if Central Arkansas is left with $50,000 after all expenses are paid, that's what RMU should be offered. If RMU wants more, screw them. If Pitt is offering less, stop being cheap.

Why dOes it matter to Pitt hoW much it costs any of the "pay to play" schools to travel here for the game? We give them the money, they decide how to spend it. They could come by Megabus if they want to save money. Give RMU what we pay other schools - it doesn't matter to us, and surely playing them is of more interest to Pitt fans than playing Central Wherever.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

For these small schools it has to be about money. The money they make from games like this covers equipment, recruiting, salaries, etc.
my wife is friends with a small d1 school HC that plays Alabama every year. That game is too important because it finances the program for a long time. It allows them to survive financially.

I understand the money side of the equation from the small schools perspective not so from Pitts side . Pay all your OOC's W's the same.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Right. But we aren't offering them the same deal Duquesne did, we'd be idiots to do so. It actually kind of surprises me a little bit and shows exactly how far down the basketball food chain Duquesne has slipped that they happily agree to play a full home and home with Robert Morris, and have for over a decade.

RMU had beaten the Dukes for 5 straight years until this year. Even in a down year for RMU, they kept it very close against a pretty decent/good Duquesne team...

Also, RMU should have a new arena in 3-4 years.

 

[ameoba defense]

RMU had beaten the Dukes for 5 straight years until this year. Even in a down year for RMU, they kept it very close against a pretty decent/good Duquesne team...

Also, RMU should have a new arena in 3-4 years.

RMU needs to move up to either the MAAC, or the CAA. The NEC is a low major, and the opponents just don't make me ever want to make a trip out to Moon. The MAAC, and CAA are true mid majors, and have some decent teams, that sometimes make some noise in March. Folks might actually be interested in seeing an RMU vs Siena game. Your league really determines what your ceiling is in most cases, and the ceiling in the NEC is very low, as an NEC team has never advanced to the round of 32.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

RMU needs to move up to either the MAAC, or the CAA. The NEC is a low major, and the opponents just don't make me ever want to make a trip out to Moon. The MAAC, and CAA are true mid majors, and have some decent teams, that sometimes make some noise in March. Folks might actually be interested in seeing an RMU vs Siena game. Your league really determines what your ceiling is in most cases, and the ceiling in the NEC is very low, as an NEC team has never advanced to the round of 32.

I think RMU is hoping that a the MAAC, CAA, or Horizon League would take them if they get that new arena. The MAAC picked up Monmouth and Quinnipiac from the NEC shortly after they built new arenas and neither of those programs were much of anything.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

RMU needs to move up to either the MAAC, or the CAA. The NEC is a low major, and the opponents just don't make me ever want to make a trip out to Moon. The MAAC, and CAA are true mid majors, and have some decent teams, that sometimes make some noise in March. Folks might actually be interested in seeing an RMU vs Siena game. Your league really determines what your ceiling is in most cases, and the ceiling in the NEC is very low, as an NEC team has never advanced to the round of 32.

Yea. Most of the opponents in the NEC aren't the greatest. A move to a better league might happen in a few years (5-6 yrs or so idk). RMU did have a couple good non-conference games (in moon) vs Oakland and Bucknell.

I think they could be pretty competitive in the MAAC and CAA. Jumping much further for a first step might be too much tho (like A10 & even the Horizon League). Right now, at least, they can make the Tourney representing the NEC. The conference's RPI (as you noted) hurts the representing team from the NEC and most times gives them a 16 seed. So, I think the MAAC, or CAA would be two good conferences to go to.

Before they think about moving up....
First things first tho, they need to keep players in the program and build it up again.

Go Pitt & RMU...

 

[Saboteur]

Take the freaking bus to Ohio and I hope its a Greyhound.
I hate U's with two first names as their name.

Really....kind of a funny comment from a message board writer with a handle such as yours.
Let someone else have some fun too.
The solution is to have Pitt, Duquesne, RMU and WVU all play in a round robin at Consol.
Remember the Steel Bowl?

 

[JokePa]

Some day we will get a beat writer that went to school at PITT

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Really....kind of a funny comment from a message board writer with a handle such as yours.
Let someone else have some fun too.
The solution is to have Pitt, Duquesne, RMU and WVU all play in a round robin at Consol.
Remember the Steel Bowl?

I like the idea of a little Pgh tournament.

You could also add any or all of these teams to your list if wanted : PSU, Youngstown St, & St. Francis PA.

Any other somewhat local D1 that could be invited to make it 8 teams??

Could always add like Cal U or IUP to get to 8 teams..

And lastly, how would u set the bracket/tourney up?

 

[Saboteur]

You

I like the idea of a little Pgh tournament.

You could also add any or all of these teams to your list if wanted : PSU, Youngstown St, & St. Francis PA.

Any other somewhat local D1 that could be invited to make it 8 teams??

Could always add like Cal U or IUP to get to 8 teams..

And lastly, how would u set the bracket/tourney up?

Must have marguee game set up...so WVU,PSU,etc..on other side of bracket

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

You

Must have marguee game set up...so WVU,PSU,etc..on other side of bracket

Yeah
Make sure Pitt at least has a good chance to play PSU and WVU.
However, Pitt vs WVU would be likely the title game of the Tournament if they made it that far. PSU could be on Pitt's side and RMU OR Duquesne, but Pitt vs WVU would make for a good tv title game (IMO).

 

[ameoba defense]

I like the idea of a little Pgh tournament.

You could also add any or all of these teams to your list if wanted : PSU, Youngstown St, & St. Francis PA.

Any other somewhat local D1 that could be invited to make it 8 teams??

Could always add like Cal U or IUP to get to 8 teams..

And lastly, how would u set the bracket/tourney up?

No D2 teams. Use the 3 local teams, and rotate PSU, and WVU.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

No D2 teams. Use the 3 local teams, and rotate PSU, and WVU.

That would work too...

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Really....kind of a funny comment from a message board writer with a handle such as yours.
Let someone else have some fun too.
The solution is to have Pitt, Duquesne, RMU and WVU all play in a round robin at Consol.
Remember the Steel Bowl?

Great idea!
Why didn't I think of that!
PITT gets a win, a good final game with the Hoopies, we don't fork out any money, + it might become an annual event and maybe a money maker.

 

[runshadyrun]

a local tournament like that would be great, my interest in college bb actually began many many years ago watching philly's big five games, in addition to billy knight and the davis twins at duquesne... i'd keep wvu though tnad throw out state penn u.

 

[paulbl99]

RMU sucks this year so its probably a good thing we aren't playing them but they are usually a pretty reliable good RPI team. That combined with the fact that they are local and we've played them almost every year dor a few decades has made it seem strange that the 2 teams no longer play.

Well, in an interview with Filliponi, Zeise confirmed what I thought was the reason and posted on this board. Its a financial disagreement. The 2 teams cant agree on RMU's appearance fee. Since they are local and only require a bus ride and no hotel rooms, Pitt probably doesnt want to pay RMU much feeling RMU needs the game more and should just be happy to play us. RMU is saying, "eff that," we'll bus to Cincy and pick up $80K" instead. Truthfully, I dont know what the going rate is for hometown teams so its hard to say who is being more bullheaded here.

Not going to get this quote correct...But the essence of it is here
Jerome Lane ,in answer to a question about playing RM to end the pre Big East portion of the schedule said something like.......

I'm glad we'll be done playing the jabronies


I guess...who cares

 

[Zaratoughda]

The three local teams and WVU.... NOT PSU.

PSU is not worth playing.

We used to play them each year but they refused to play us anymore because we were mopping up the court with them. I remember one game where in the second half.... we had a 3-1 advantage in the score.... 63-21. Now THAT is mopping up the court with them.

Anyways, they would probably not be interested (due to the potential of being beaten bad again). This year, the Dukes beat them by 20+ and we beat the Dukes by 20+. So, beating them by 40+, would not be that surprising.

 

[California Panther]

This year, the Dukes beat them by 20+ and we beat the Dukes by 20+. So, beating them by 40+, would not be that surprising.

You know the comparative score thing should never be looked at.

By that theory, we beat Davidson by 25, Davidson beat WCU by 33, so we should beat WCU by 58, and we all know how that game turned out.

Many other factors always come into play, comparative scores are nice to look at, but they're valuable for nothing.

 

[OmarLittle]

Correct!
Born in Liverpool England in 1734 and died in Philly in 1806.
Signer of the Declaration of Independence and represented PA in the Continental Congress and was a financier of the American Revolution.

I still dislike U's that have a name that sounds like two first names.

That seems shortsighted to have as a general rule.

How can you hate Alice Lloyd?

 

[PHATWOOD]

Isn't RMU 0-30 all-time vs. Pitt or something? As in they've never defeated Pitt. Ever.

Yawn.

If they don't come for whatever we wanna pay 'em, then let 'em ride the bus to Cincy or wherever.

We play the City Game. It's always a fun night. That's enough local flavor for me.

 

[Zaratoughda]

You know the comparative score thing should never be looked at.

By that theory, we beat Davidson by 25, Davidson beat WCU by 33, so we should beat WCU by 58, and we all know how that game turned out.

Many other factors always come into play, comparative scores are nice to look at, but they're valuable for nothing.

It's OK to do that if it is with respect to the Pedophiles.

 

[California Panther]

It's OK to do that if it is with respect to the Pedophiles.

Is that called the "Pedophile Exemption"?

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Playing RMU won't excite any Pitt fan.
Pitt can't win in a game like this ,God forbid if they lose.
But why not help out a local program ,if the payment for NE WEST CENTRAL SAINT NOBODY is 50k then pay them 50k or whatever the rate is RMU will at least bring in a few fans to the game.