Oct 26
2008
admin| Category: Pitt Football |
It’s really never been my intention to pick on Pitt’s football program every time that they lose. I’ve actually been quite impressed with the Panthers, overall, this season. I never saw them beating South Florida. Unfortunatly, Saturday brought Pitt their second embarrassing loss of the season.
Rutgers (yes, Rutgers) - 54
Pitt - 34
“I talked to a lot of smart football people and everybody feels that Pitt has the positive momentum and Penn State has a negative momentum. You can see it, feel it, and it is definitely happening.” - August 17, 2008
How do you feel about the momentum now?
“I’m a Pitt fan in his mid-30s and I like seeing Joe Paterno as coach at Penn State. Not because I like seeing them lose, but because every fall he’s the coach there it’s like I haven’t grown any older.” - July 26, 2008
How much do you like seeing Joe Paterno coach now?
“As a diehard Pitt football fan since 1979, I can tell you for sure that this returning Pitt football team is as great as the teams that were returning during the Marino era.” - July 21, 2008
Mmmmm….. no.
“The college football championship will be between Pitt and Auburn. Auburn will win 17-3. Penn State will not even be in the Top 25 this year. Go, Auburn.” - July 21, 2008
Mmmmm….. no.
Pitt (5-2, 2-1 Big East)
Auburn (4-4, 2-3 SEC)… Go, Auburn.
“Pitt doesn’t need Penn State to sell out Heinz Field. They have LeSean McCoy.” - July 12, 2008
Mmmmm….. no.
Rutgers @ Pitt attendance… 51,161
Heinz Field capacity… 65,050
Jul 12
2008
admin| Category: Penn State Football, Pitt Football |
“Pitt doesn’t need Penn State to sell out Heinz Field. They have LeSean McCoy.” - July 12, 2008.
I’d like to first point out that LeSean McCoy is a tremendously exciting running back. In his freshman season at Pitt, he broke the Big East freshman rushing record, and I won’t be surprised at all to see McCoy have another outstanding season in 2008.
Unfortunately for Pitt, McCoy and his record-breaking season only attracted an average home attendance of 33,315. Heinz Field comfortably seats just over 65,000 spectators.
Attendance should improve this season, thanks mostly to an improved home schedule. Pitt hosts Iowa, Rutgers, Louisville, and West Virginia.
Still, I expect plenty of tickets to be available at the gate on game day.
The problem is that Heinz Field is sufficiently far away from Pitt’s Oakland campus that few college students care to make the 10 minute commute from their dorm room to the confluence of the three rivers. Pittsburgh locals love their football, but better games and teams can be found on television, and most save their Heinz Field visits for Sundays when that other Pittsburgh football team is in town. I’m a firm believer that college football games are meant to be played on college football campuses, and I think it’s rare that field-sharing agreements between collegiate and professional teams create ideal situations for any of the teams involved.
Renewing the Penn State / Pitt rivalry is a completely different argument, and I generally agree that this intrastate matchup would be a fantastic annual event.
Penn State would undoubtedly sell out Heinz Field, and hopefully schedules will be arranged for them to do just that sometime soon.
In the meantime, it will be up to LeSean McCoy to find ways to make people occupy that other half of Heinz Field.
