Reasons I expect Pitt and Syracuse to make rapid improvement in football once they join the ACC:

1) Bigger Athletic Budgets. Both schools have been making do with $40-$50M/yr; in the ACC they'll get $5-$10M more to spend. Here's a comparison of revenues for Pitt, Syracuse, and Va Tech:

year Pitt Cuse VT
2008 39.7 44.7 64.4
2009 45.8 52.0 60.9
2010 49.2 49.3 63.6
2011 56.0 51.4 66.9

2) Penn State Problems. When it comes to recruiting PA and NJ, Pittsburgh and Syracuse both have to compete with Penn St. As long as Joe Paterno had things rolling, that was a tough sell. Now Joe Pa is gone and the school faces an on-going scandal which could end up in NCAA sanctions. That should even the playing field.

3) Better Schedule. The ACC may not be the SEC or the Big Ten, but it isn't the Big East either. I'm guessing HS recruits would rather play VT, Clemson, FSU, Ga Tech and Miami instead of USF, Cincinnati, Louisville, UConn and Rutgers. Picking up games with BC, Maryland, and UVa may even be viewed as improvements.

Both schools are already showing some signs of having bottomed out and starting on the road back, but with the 3 factors listed here I think there is reason to be optimistic about the future of football at Pitt & Syracuse - which means optimism for the ACC too!

I'm not convinced that PSU will receive NCAA Sanctions yet. Only time will tell though.

Other than that point, I do agree w/ you on all counts.

(06-29-2012 10:15 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Reasons I expect Pitt and Syracuse to make rapid improvement in football once they join the ACC:

Pitt's biggest problem has been coaching...not commitment to football, not facilities, not even recruiting.

Coaching, firing coaches creating instability, crapping the bed on the field whenever the table was set to take the next step...

It had nothing to do with the conference or money to be honest.

The money is going to improve Pitt's olympic sports. But football's fortunes will depend on Paul Chryst.

Penn State still has a Top 15 recruiting class so far. They haven't missed a beat,

(06-29-2012 10:29 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  I'm not convinced that PSU will receive NCAA Sanctions yet. Only time will tell though.

Other than that point, I do agree w/ you on all counts.

With CNN story out about e-mails from 2001 I'd be surprised if they weren't hit with big-time NCAA penalties for lack of institutional control.

Blood is in the water on this one, imho.

Cheers,
Neil

(06-29-2012 10:15 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Reasons I expect Pitt and Syracuse to make rapid improvement in football once they join the ACC:

1) Bigger Athletic Budgets. Both schools have been making do with $40-$50M/yr; in the ACC they'll get $5-$10M more to spend. Here's a comparison of revenues for Pitt, Syracuse, and Va Tech:

year Pitt Cuse VT
2008 39.7 44.7 64.4
2009 45.8 52.0 60.9
2010 49.2 49.3 63.6
2011 56.0 51.4 66.9

2) Penn State Problems. When it comes to recruiting PA and NJ, Pittsburgh and Syracuse both have to compete with Penn St. As long as Joe Paterno had things rolling, that was a tough sell. Now Joe Pa is gone and the school faces an on-going scandal which could end up in NCAA sanctions. That should even the playing field.

3) Better Schedule. The ACC may not be the SEC or the Big Ten, but it isn't the Big East either. I'm guessing HS recruits would rather play VT, Clemson, FSU, Ga Tech and Miami instead of USF, Cincinnati, Louisville, UConn and Rutgers. Picking up games with BC, Maryland, and UVa may even be viewed as improvements.

Both schools are already showing some signs of having bottomed out and starting on the road back, but with the 3 factors listed here I think there is reason to be optimistic about the future of football at Pitt & Syracuse - which means optimism for the ACC too!

From a Syracuse perspective, the move to the ACC plus a successful launch of the Giants Stadium games might eventually help recruiting in New Jersey if we assume Rutgers' 'attractiveness' will be hindered over time by the loss of Schiano and the lack of access to big-time post-season bowls. The Scarlet Knights' questionable schedule (both in and out of conference has not deterred their recruiting in New Jersey thus far).

Obviously the big boys will go into Jersey and get who they want, but some of the 4 star and better 3 star players (yes, I know, star rankings are questionable, but I use it for reference sake) might start to go to the Cuse if the above falls right. This will help with the Orange's depth.

Also, the extra $$$ from the ACC might help us retain some key assistant coaches.

Cheers,
Neil

(06-30-2012 11:44 AM)omniorange Wrote:  

(06-29-2012 10:29 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  I'm not convinced that PSU will receive NCAA Sanctions yet. Only time will tell though.

Other than that point, I do agree w/ you on all counts.

With CNN story out about e-mails from 2001 I'd be surprised if they weren't hit with big-time NCAA penalties for lack of institutional control.

Blood is in the water on this one, imho.

Cheers,
Neil

+1
There is nothing more repulsive than predatory homosexual abuse with a child. Since there has already been a conviction in the courts, and more and more cover up information is now coming out, Penn State's troubles are just beginning.

RE: the original post
Pitt and Syracuse are both "diamonds in the rough" when put in a better circumstance will have an opportunity to reach their full potential.

(06-30-2012 11:54 AM)omniorange Wrote:  From a Syracuse perspective, the move to the ACC plus a successful launch of the Giants Stadium games might eventually help recruiting in New Jersey if we assume Rutgers' 'attractiveness' will be hindered over time by the loss of Schiano and the lack of access to big-time post-season bowls. The Scarlet Knights' questionable schedule (both in and out of conference has not deterred their recruiting in New Jersey thus far).

Obviously the big boys will go into Jersey and get who they want, but some of the 4 star and better 3 star players (yes, I know, star rankings are questionable, but I use it for reference sake) might start to go to the Cuse if the above falls right. This will help with the Orange's depth.

Also, the extra $$$ from the ACC might help us retain some key assistant coaches.

I agree with much of this... well except the Giants Stadium part... Giants Stadium was torn down and is a parking lot... now there is Met Life Stadium, which the Jets' made possible... not only did they pay for half of its construction, but Jets management also secured the naming rights deal for the parties involved.

(07-01-2012 01:01 PM)IceJus10 Wrote:  ... Giants Stadium was torn down and is a parking lot... now there is Met Life Stadium, which the Jets' made possible... not only did they pay for half of its construction, but Jets management also secured the naming rights deal for the parties involved.

Wouldn't be a Jet's fan by any chance, would you IceJus10 ?