I'd love it. My parents both went to Pittsburgh and I'd like to see that old rivalry rekindled. PSU is Pitt's biggest rival and restarting the series will only boost both programs.

(05-06-2012 03:27 PM)ndlutz Wrote:  If the choice comes down to ND or PSU, I'm 99% sure we'll take PSU. In we, I mean the Pitt athletic department. PSU is our biggest rival and quite frankly with losing the Backyard Brawl the only game that can make up for that by having an even bigger significance is PSU.

It would be nice to play ND and PSU every year, and perhaps that can happen. In the event that it can't, however, I just feel as though the choice will be clear and PSU will trump ND.

If Pitt could lock up ND and PSU as permanent annual home and home series, then that is what they'll do. It appears like locking up PSU to an annual home/home series is going to happen at some point in the future. I think both sides realize that Pitt and PSU suffer by not playing each other annually, and I believe it is one of the reasons why OSU and other B1G schools were able to come in and take more PA recruits than they traditionally would. That's JMO, because I believe that Pitt and PSU are both elevated in the eyes of the PA prospects when each school plays each other annually. I think ND will continue to be regularly seen on the schedule 8 out of 10 years. That seems to be what has been happening traditionally. If Pitt and ND can agree to a permanent annual home/home series, then Pitt will want that too.

Bottom line, Pitt would want both for OOC without question. It would officially become the one school in the ACC that would have a legitimate stake to the most difficult OOC in the conference. Eat your heart out, Catdaddy...

Pretty sure the Big Ten decided to stay at 8 conference games considering the Pac 12 agreement.

(05-06-2012 03:27 PM)ndlutz Wrote:  If the choice comes down to ND or PSU, I'm 99% sure we'll take PSU. In we, I mean the Pitt athletic department. PSU is our biggest rival and quite frankly with losing the Backyard Brawl the only game that can make up for that by having an even bigger significance is PSU.

It would be nice to play ND and PSU every year, and perhaps that can happen. In the event that it can't, however, I just feel as though the choice will be clear and PSU will trump ND.

I'm pretty sure they'll find a way to do both. Who wouldn't want to play them both every year and that's triple for Pitt. It is perfect that this opportunity comes right after the end of the backyard brawl. PSU makes for an even more heated opponent than WVU.

Even if they can only make it happen 6 out of 10 years or 10 out of 20, as long as it is on even footing, the games should be scheduled.

(05-06-2012 07:30 PM)JustAnotherName Wrote:  Pretty sure the Big Ten decided to stay at 8 conference games considering the Pac 12 agreement.

But they added a game w/ the PAC which might as well be called a conference game for the fact that they are locked into 9 games per year.

(05-07-2012 10:08 AM)4x4hokies Wrote:  

(05-06-2012 07:30 PM)JustAnotherName Wrote:  Pretty sure the Big Ten decided to stay at 8 conference games considering the Pac 12 agreement.

But they added a game w/ the PAC which might as well be called a conference game for the fact that they [Penn St] are locked into 9 games per year.

This is not a real excuse because Pitt will also be locked into 9 games/year but will still try to play both Penn St and Notre Dame OOC, IMHO.

Still, Penn St may use this as an excuse why they can only play Pitt 2 out of every 4 years (playing Temple the other 2). For this reason I think Pitt needs to hold onto that Notre Dame game, no matter what happens with Penn St short-term.

(05-07-2012 10:33 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 10:08 AM)4x4hokies Wrote:  

(05-06-2012 07:30 PM)JustAnotherName Wrote:  Pretty sure the Big Ten decided to stay at 8 conference games considering the Pac 12 agreement.

But they added a game w/ the PAC which might as well be called a conference game for the fact that they [Penn St] are locked into 9 games per year.

This is not a real excuse because Pitt will also be locked into 9 games/year but will still try to play both Penn St and Notre Dame OOC, IMHO.

Still, Penn St may use this as an excuse why they can only play Pitt 2 out of every 4 years (playing Temple the other 2). For this reason I think Pitt needs to hold onto that Notre Dame game, no matter what happens with Penn St short-term.

Playing in a division against Duke already puts one fairly easy game on the schedule so I agree that you can do 9 conf games and two major OOC opponents. The issue could be that there wouldn't be much variety to the schedule if you have PSU, ND plus 9 ACC teams. Though you could pretend the Atlantic teams are like OOC series so you'd get rotating series against schools like FSU, Clemson, NCSU etc. Fans never look at things in that light though. They'd see it as not leaving room to play Oklahoma or Ohio State even though they likely never would anyway.

(05-07-2012 11:14 AM)4x4hokies Wrote:  Playing in a division against Duke already puts one fairly easy game on the schedule so I agree that you can do 9 conf games and two major OOC opponents. The issue could be that there wouldn't be much variety to the schedule if you have PSU, ND plus 9 ACC teams. Though you could pretend the Atlantic teams are like OOC series so you'd get rotating series against schools like FSU, Clemson, NCSU etc. Fans never look at things in that light though. They'd see it as not leaving room to play Oklahoma or Ohio State even though they likely never would anyway.

Playing both Notre Dame and Penn State every year... how boring! (Va Tech should have such problems).

(05-07-2012 10:33 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 10:08 AM)4x4hokies Wrote:  

(05-06-2012 07:30 PM)JustAnotherName Wrote:  Pretty sure the Big Ten decided to stay at 8 conference games considering the Pac 12 agreement.

But they added a game w/ the PAC which might as well be called a conference game for the fact that they [Penn St] are locked into 9 games per year.

This is not a real excuse because Pitt will also be locked into 9 games/year but will still try to play both Penn St and Notre Dame OOC, IMHO.

Still, Penn St may use this as an excuse why they can only play Pitt 2 out of every 4 years (playing Temple the other 2). For this reason I think Pitt needs to hold onto that Notre Dame game, no matter what happens with Penn St short-term.

Pitt will hold onto the ND game as long as possible. ND is a great game for Pitt to keep, and they are a traditional game for Pitt. The only schools Pitt has played more than ND are WVU, PSU and SU. ND ranks 4th in most frequently played school for Pitt I believe.

(05-07-2012 04:42 PM)miko33 Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 10:33 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 10:08 AM)4x4hokies Wrote:  

(05-06-2012 07:30 PM)JustAnotherName Wrote:  Pretty sure the Big Ten decided to stay at 8 conference games considering the Pac 12 agreement.

But they added a game w/ the PAC which might as well be called a conference game for the fact that they [Penn St] are locked into 9 games per year.

This is not a real excuse because Pitt will also be locked into 9 games/year but will still try to play both Penn St and Notre Dame OOC, IMHO.

Still, Penn St may use this as an excuse why they can only play Pitt 2 out of every 4 years (playing Temple the other 2). For this reason I think Pitt needs to hold onto that Notre Dame game, no matter what happens with Penn St short-term.

Pitt will hold onto the ND game as long as possible. ND is a great game for Pitt to keep, and they are a traditional game for Pitt. The only schools Pitt has played more than ND are WVU, PSU and SU. ND ranks 4th in most frequently played school for Pitt I believe.

I agree, holld onto Notre Dame. Include PSU if you can, but keep the Golden Domers.

http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/...onents.php

WVU (104), PSU (96) then Syracuse and ND are tied at 67.

(05-06-2012 01:41 PM)Hoquista Wrote:  With PSU and ND on the schedule, it would almost feel like Pitt is an independent again playing teams up and down the east coast.

Yes it would. Funny how things work out in the long run.: )

I posted a hypothetical 2016 schedule that Pitt would have just to see how it would look. In 2016, PSU and ND will be on the schedule at the same time for the first time in over a decade. It's one thing to talk about it but another thing to see it laid out. I think it would be challenging but good for Pitt IMO. No one would accuse Pitt of watering down the OOC. The PSU and ND games are already scheduled and firm. Also, I have the 6 coastal schools, SU (permanent cross-over) and chose BC and Clemson as the 2 Atlantic schools to round out the conf slate.

9/3: FCS/MAC
9/10: Penn St
9/17: @Virginia
9/24: Syracuse
10/1: @Duke
10/8: @Clemson
10/15: North Carolina
10/22: Georgia Tech
10/29: @Notre Dame
11/5: bye
11/12: Virginia Tech
11/17: @ Boston College
11/24: Miami

That is a nice schedule. What makes it interesting is that PSU, SU, ND and Miami are traditional Pitt foes while BC was a frequently played school back during the days when Pitt was an indie.

(05-07-2012 08:32 PM)miko33 Wrote:  I posted a hypothetical 2016 schedule that Pitt would have just to see how it would look. In 2016, PSU and ND will be on the schedule at the same time for the first time in over a decade. It's one thing to talk about it but another thing to see it laid out. I think it would be challenging but good for Pitt IMO. No one would accuse Pitt of watering down the OOC. The PSU and ND games are already scheduled and firm. Also, I have the 6 coastal schools, SU (permanent cross-over) and chose BC and Clemson as the 2 Atlantic schools to round out the conf slate.

9/3: FCS/MAC
9/10: Penn St
9/17: @Virginia
9/24: Syracuse
10/1: @Duke
10/8: @Clemson
10/15: North Carolina
10/22: Georgia Tech
10/29: @Notre Dame
11/5: bye
11/12: Virginia Tech
11/17: @ Boston College
11/24: Miami

That is a nice schedule. What makes it interesting is that PSU, SU, ND and Miami are traditional Pitt foes while BC was a frequently played school back during the days when Pitt was an indie.

Nice. One recommendation: Cross division rivals should play in October. This works out the kinks and adds a little flavor to each particular rivalry as either can possibly mess up the other's season. I would do this for the whole conference, too, not just Syracuse v. Pitt. This would save November for the divisional rivalries.

(05-07-2012 08:50 PM)HtownOrange Wrote:  Nice. One recommendation: Cross division rivals should play in October. This works out the kinks and adds a little flavor to each particular rivalry as either can possibly mess up the other's season. I would do this for the whole conference, too, not just Syracuse v. Pitt. This would save November for the divisional rivalries.

Nah, this is the ACC....we put all the interesting games early in the season; Clemson/FSU last year and this year. No need for high profile games late in the season, it might distract from the awesome Duke/Belmont or Chapel Hill/Asheville blood matches in hoops.

(05-07-2012 08:50 PM)HtownOrange Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 08:32 PM)miko33 Wrote:  I posted a hypothetical 2016 schedule that Pitt would have just to see how it would look. In 2016, PSU and ND will be on the schedule at the same time for the first time in over a decade. It's one thing to talk about it but another thing to see it laid out. I think it would be challenging but good for Pitt IMO. No one would accuse Pitt of watering down the OOC. The PSU and ND games are already scheduled and firm. Also, I have the 6 coastal schools, SU (permanent cross-over) and chose BC and Clemson as the 2 Atlantic schools to round out the conf slate.

9/3: FCS/MAC
9/10: Penn St
9/17: @Virginia
9/24: Syracuse
10/1: @Duke
10/8: @Clemson
10/15: North Carolina
10/22: Georgia Tech
10/29: @Notre Dame
11/5: bye
11/12: Virginia Tech
11/17: @ Boston College
11/24: Miami

That is a nice schedule. What makes it interesting is that PSU, SU, ND and Miami are traditional Pitt foes while BC was a frequently played school back during the days when Pitt was an indie.

Nice. One recommendation: Cross division rivals should play in October. This works out the kinks and adds a little flavor to each particular rivalry as either can possibly mess up the other's season. I would do this for the whole conference, too, not just Syracuse v. Pitt. This would save November for the divisional rivalries.

In an ideal world, Pitt plays PSU during rivalry week, Syracuse the week before or week after rivalry week depending on how the schedule breaks and ND in late Oct/early Nov. That is the ideal situation for Pitt and SU to play late in the season. However, I believe that all cross-overs are front loaded, so I did that with this hypothetical. In hindsight, I doubt BC would be played so late in the season considering they're from the other division.

(05-07-2012 09:13 PM)catdaddy_2402 Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 08:50 PM)HtownOrange Wrote:  Nice. One recommendation: Cross division rivals should play in October. This works out the kinks and adds a little flavor to each particular rivalry as either can possibly mess up the other's season. I would do this for the whole conference, too, not just Syracuse v. Pitt. This would save November for the divisional rivalries.

Nah, this is the ACC....we put all the interesting games early in the season; Clemson/FSU last year and this year. No need for high profile games late in the season, it might distract from the awesome Duke/Belmont or Chapel Hill/Asheville blood matches in hoops.

I'm not buying into Swofford's scheduling genius just yet.

(05-07-2012 08:50 PM)HtownOrange Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 08:32 PM)miko33 Wrote:  I posted a hypothetical 2016 schedule that Pitt would have just to see how it would look. In 2016, PSU and ND will be on the schedule at the same time for the first time in over a decade. It's one thing to talk about it but another thing to see it laid out. I think it would be challenging but good for Pitt IMO. No one would accuse Pitt of watering down the OOC. The PSU and ND games are already scheduled and firm. Also, I have the 6 coastal schools, SU (permanent cross-over) and chose BC and Clemson as the 2 Atlantic schools to round out the conf slate.

9/3: FCS/MAC
9/10: Penn St
9/17: @Virginia
9/24: Syracuse
10/1: @Duke
10/8: @Clemson
10/15: North Carolina
10/22: Georgia Tech
10/29: @Notre Dame
11/5: bye
11/12: Virginia Tech
11/17: @ Boston College
11/24: Miami

That is a nice schedule. What makes it interesting is that PSU, SU, ND and Miami are traditional Pitt foes while BC was a frequently played school back during the days when Pitt was an indie.

Nice. One recommendation: Cross division rivals should play in October. This works out the kinks and adds a little flavor to each particular rivalry as either can possibly mess up the other's season. I would do this for the whole conference, too, not just Syracuse v. Pitt. This would save November for the divisional rivalries.

That would make a lot of sense BUT......................................The Clemson people think that the conference should allow them to play Wofford, Presbyterian or some other DII school the week before they play South Carolina so they could "tune up" for their mighty SEC rival.

(05-08-2012 07:12 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 08:50 PM)HtownOrange Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 08:32 PM)miko33 Wrote:  I posted a hypothetical 2016 schedule that Pitt would have just to see how it would look. In 2016, PSU and ND will be on the schedule at the same time for the first time in over a decade. It's one thing to talk about it but another thing to see it laid out. I think it would be challenging but good for Pitt IMO. No one would accuse Pitt of watering down the OOC. The PSU and ND games are already scheduled and firm. Also, I have the 6 coastal schools, SU (permanent cross-over) and chose BC and Clemson as the 2 Atlantic schools to round out the conf slate.

9/3: FCS/MAC
9/10: Penn St
9/17: @Virginia
9/24: Syracuse
10/1: @Duke
10/8: @Clemson
10/15: North Carolina
10/22: Georgia Tech
10/29: @Notre Dame
11/5: bye
11/12: Virginia Tech
11/17: @ Boston College
11/24: Miami

That is a nice schedule. What makes it interesting is that PSU, SU, ND and Miami are traditional Pitt foes while BC was a frequently played school back during the days when Pitt was an indie.

Nice. One recommendation: Cross division rivals should play in October. This works out the kinks and adds a little flavor to each particular rivalry as either can possibly mess up the other's season. I would do this for the whole conference, too, not just Syracuse v. Pitt. This would save November for the divisional rivalries.

That would make a lot of sense BUT......................................The Clemson people think that the conference should allow them to play Wofford, Presbyterian or some other DII school the week before they play South Carolina so they could "tune up" for their mighty SEC rival.

I'm sure Duke would fill that bill nicely, and it would kill two birds with one stone...

(05-07-2012 08:50 PM)HtownOrange Wrote:  I posted a hypothetical 2016 schedule that Pitt would have just to see how it would look. In 2016, PSU and ND will be on the schedule at the same time for the first time in over a decade. It's one thing to talk about it but another thing to see it laid out. I think it would be challenging but good for Pitt IMO. No one would accuse Pitt of watering down the OOC. The PSU and ND games are already scheduled and firm. Also, I have the 6 coastal schools, SU (permanent cross-over) and chose BC and Clemson as the 2 Atlantic schools to round out the conf slate.

9/3: FCS/MAC
9/10: Penn St
9/17: @Virginia <-- blue = ACC teams likely to be ranked
9/24: Syracuse
10/1: @Duke
10/8: @Clemson
10/15: North Carolina
10/22: Georgia Tech
10/29: @Notre Dame
11/5: bye
11/12: Virginia Tech
11/17: @ Boston College
11/24: Miami

That is a nice schedule. What makes it interesting is that PSU, SU, ND and Miami are traditional Pitt foes while BC was a frequently played school back during the days when Pitt was an indie.

That is a really STRONG schedule - no questions about SoS there (as far as whether you would qualify for the playoffs if you won the conference)