Letter: More Pitt and Penn State

"It has been my experience that fans always think their team and their conference don’t get enough respect."

be careful with absolutes, bob.  fans are people; and people don't "always" think anything.

it has likely been "your experience" to get a lot of letters and emails over the years from fans complaining, only because that's what drives most people to write a columnist.  they do not represent the majority of us.

nor is it "always" untrue that a particular conference or team does not get appropriate respect.

just as it was not "always" true that your columns over the years were rife with fan-bashing.

(You are correct that it is never a good idea to use absolutes like ``always'' and ``never.''  I've made the changes. --- Bob Smizik)

Joe looks real upset in that picture - must be from one of those Iowa games.....

Here's a..."Did you know" for y'all :

Iowa changed their uniform colors to black and gold in the late 70's to match the Steelers colors in an effort to put a winning spirit into their flagging football program......I just love reminded all my PSU friends about that every year ;-)

I agree that the ACC's raid was intended to stregthen its conference, primarily to qualify for a conference title game with the minimum of twelve teams.  However, they also should have been very aware of the impact that it would have on the Big East.  I remember Duke President, Nan Keohane, being surprised that the ACC was being looked upon as the villain .... surely, she could have consulted her math department that taking 3 teams from and 8 team conference lessend the leagiue by 37.5%, which is a sizeable portion of any entity.  But in the end, it all happened for the same reason why PSU has little incentive for playing Pitt (right or worng.)

I do remember ACC Commish Swofford claiming that the ACC would be considered among the best fb conference along with its bb conference ... which certainly didn't materialize ... and on the bb side, they added Va Tech, BC and Miami while the BE added Louisville , Marquette and Cincy (guess who benefitted here?)

Bob, great stuff.  One point though, if you will....

I don't think that the ACC is happy with itself when, for at least this week,  the BEast has almost half of it's teams ranked, and the ACC has only almost 1/3 of it's teams ranked.  

To say each conference has 3 ranked teams doesn't tell the whole story imho.

BC is a team that would be great to have back in the BE. Despite the absurdity of a team from New England playing in another wise southern league, I have read that they still make more $$$ in the ACC than they would in the Big East. However, I read that on a blog. Therefore, I am a little wary of those such numbers.

They'd have to get rid of a basketball team. I'm not against that, but I am sure it is easier said than done.

I'm not sure if this sentiment has waned but I do know that many BC fans as well as the Boston media were very much opposed against BC joining the ACC ... especially when considering that the 'nearest' ACC school to Boston is 435 miles away and nearly an 8 hour drive.  Heck, that is outside the range of half of the B10 schools for PSU.

Someone suggest that PA law makers get involved in the Pitt vs. PSU game

I think these law makers should have enough to worry about other than a football game considering the state of the economy.  Keep in mind these are the same clowns that finally passed a budget half way through the fiscal year......

Please add a "number 4" to the booing part of the letter:

4)  That the booing was so minimal that it couldn't even be heard on the TV, no matter how loud you turned up the volume.

Haha.  Couldn't resist.  I never did mention what the announcers said immediately after they pointed out the minimal booing.  The said, "These Pittsburgh fans are smart!"  Take those announcers as you will.....

Ok, that's absolutely the last booing comment that I'll ever, ever have.  Maybe.

EJAB

Bob, I have just a general question. Why don't you write anything about Ohio State fans booing Terrelle Pryor? Since he was a local kid and maybe the best athlete to ever come out of the area, I figured it would be relevant.

(The primary focus of my writing is local teams. Besides, I did not hear the fans boo Pryor.  While I don't believe college athletes should be booed, there was one major difference between Stull and Pryor.  Stull was playing well; Pryor was not.  -- Bob Smizik)

I loved Blair as a Pitt Panther and look forward to reports about him in the NBA.  It might be fun to compare his stats with those of his foe at UCONN Hasheem Tabeet, who Blair outplayed in College.

Just to stir up the masses ... Tim Tebow won the Heisman during his sophomore year when the record of his team was not any better than what Ohio State will probably finish this year as .. 9 and 4.  In fact, OSU's record may be better.  

And before we hear all about that SEC competition, note that UF, in Tebow's Heisman year, lost at home to Auburn, one week after that same Auburn team lost at home to USF (how could that be ... USF is from the BE??)

Also note that UF finished with a bowl loss to Michigan .. te same team that lost to Appalachia St that year (alhtough, in fairness, it was over 3 months later.)  Still, that UF team finished well outside of the Big 15, yet Tebow still won the Heisman above Darren McFadden and Pat White, both more deserving.

Of course, Urban Meyer better utilizes the talent of his QB than J Tressel, but that's another issue.

(One of the reasons I stopped voting for the Heisman was because too many voters confused it with an MVP award. A team's record should not enter into the discussion, although, as you suggest, it does. It goes to the best player. He can be on any team.

For example: Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones are candidates for Rookie of the Year. The quality of their team does not enter into the decision-making process. --- Bob Smizik)

my point is more that much of college football is based on perception and positive PR.

Note the quote from CBS.com's Dennis Dodd from earlier this year after UF beat Tennessee  23-13 at Florida ... "The Gators don’t beat Tennessee unless Superman churns for 76 well-earned yards on 24 grinding carries."  ... give me a break!

If Pryor had those numbers for any game in Columbus, he would be severely panned.

As a former sports blogger, I’ve decided to investigate the feasibility of starting an on-line petition from both Pitt & Penn State alumni & fans to demand the football game resume.  Here’s what I’ve done so far:  

1.  One of my best friends has a son who's an Internet wunderkind, I already have him doing research.  Looks like he's found a cheap & easy way, which we are meeting tomorrow to discuss.

BTW, to counter earlier comments to the contrary, this “kid” is in his 20s and lives on the West Coast like me.  But as a college football fan, thinks it’s a tragedy this rivalry is no longer settled on the field.  He has no ties to either school except his dad’s friendship with me.

2.  I think the petition will look better and be more effective if coming from BOTH schools.  So I've reached out to a high school classmate and Nits grad to co-sponsor, he’s as passionate about this topic as I am.  If he declines, I’ll find someone else.

An online petition might pressure the schools to get off top-dead-center.  Failing that, it might pressure the PA State Legislature to lean on them.  The legislature is already on record that they indeed might champion this cause (too much money not to...).  

Bob, I’ll keep you posted.  If we manage to get it going, I’d be pleased to have your blog – as a former sports writer – and the on-line Post-Gazette’s harem of current former sports writers help us roll out the news.  

(Yes, please keep me posted. --- Bob Smizik)

Here's a classic example of the media bias against the Big East while ignoring the 'venerable' ACC and is another example of what Ed Selker was talking about. On ESPN they list all of the BCS conferences except the Big East in a poll to judge who has the toughest football conference. Of course the ACC is included in the poll and the Big East isn't. Why?

sports-ak.espn.go.com/.../index

The poll should exclude the Big East, the ACC and possibly the Big 10 but of course it only excludes the Big East.

(If there is such a media bias against the Big East, why does the basketball component of the league get such favorable coverage? --  Bob Smizik)

Because the Big East has been strong in basketball for a long time. There is no denying that and the results back that up. When the Big East lost Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College, it took a huge hit and rightfully so. Obviously it was a huge loss. The league did have a few down years but it is now strong. It was last year as well. It does not have the history the Big 10 does, but it is one solid league.

Fair enough Bob. I know you only focus on the local teams but Pryor is from Jeanette and was the most hyped athlete to ever come out of this area. Ohio State is in the Big 10 and recruits against Pitt and Penn State as well. And there was heavy booing of Pryor. As well as attacks on his facebook page and such. I thought you did not condone booing a college kid no matter what. I guess I was wrong. Thanks for clarifying.

(I don't believe in booing college athletes. I think people who do it are bullies. But I am not going to write about it every time it happens, particularly when I am unaware of the circumstances. --  Bob Smizik)

I have Bob's back here ... just because there is booing elsewhere, doesn't necessarily make it right.  And let the the Columbus media address the booing st OSU.  Lastly, as Bob indicated,  there is a difference between booing someone who is performing badly ad one who is isn't .. especially when the QB's team won the game 38 to 3.

and please ... yes, you do have the right to boo.

hey bob -

as usual, you've made some convenient choices in the informaiton you choose to utilize.  i'll give you just one:  both the big east and acc have 3 ranked teams.  however, the big east only has 2/3rds of the amount of teams.  3/8 is pretty good.  3/12 is mediocre at best.

and let's be straight here:  the acc is a disaster this year here.  bigger than usual.  even their mediocre teams (maryland, ncsu, uva, unc, wake) are less than mediocre. miami (shocker) is over-rated.  etc.

and you defend the big11's offense by highlighting that wild and innovative offense richrod is using up at michigan.  yes, it's the one that has taken them to 1-4 in-conference after giving a dreadful illinois team it's 2nd win of the season (scoring only 13 points).  michigan's offense has done nothing special this year except be called "michigan."  therefore, they get publicity and for some reason, you're respect and admiration.

the reality is that overall in college football, it's been a very down year for offenses.  pitt's is as interesting to watch as anyone's, which with coach wannstedt's philospophies, is scary.  let's not defend any of these super conferences because they aren't earning it this year.  the big east is as legit as any, especially when you consider it only has 8 teams instead of the normal 10, 11, or 12.  if you're objective, none of the conferences are differentiating htemselves this year.  but if you choose to go with one and see only their good parts, go ahead and keep the notion that the big ten is somehow special.  it obviously makes you sleep better at night.

(You, too, have made a convenient omission. When I pointed out that both leagues had three ranked teams it was in response to the letter writer saying the two conferences had done a ``role reversal from what was projected.''  It was in no way an attempt to measure the strength of the two leagues. I've said before I'm not going to get into that, although you seem rather hung up on it.

And where did I say the Big Ten is ``special?''  You are suffering from an advanced case of Big East Paranoia.   -- Bob Smizik)

I will take the Big East seriously when one team in the conference takes defense seriously.  The ACC and Big 12 have similar issues, but recent history (Oklahoma, FSU, Va Tech, etc.) leave little doubt that the worm will turn sooner rather than later.