Gimme Pitt-iful Tears and a Siren
by BSD on Jun 2, 2009 11:01 PM EDT
in Recruiting
102 comments
AND A CENTER WHOOOOO BABY!!!
Penn State landed a major commitment tonight from Miles Dieffenbach of Pittsburgh, PA. The 6-4 277 lb prospect gave his verbal commitment to Penn State while on a visit with his family.
What could be better than getting a verbal from a four-star center prospect to add to this already stellar class? Stealing that recruit from Pitt.
"I wasn't really holding out for it. I mean, I grew up a Pitt fan all my life and always hated Penn State, so when they offered me, I wasn't really that into it," said Dieffenbach. "But then I visited and it was different from what I thought. I loved it, and the tables turned."
Oh what a glorious day. Dieffenbach has been largely considered a Pitt lock for weeks. He lives right in their back yard, he grew up a Pitt fan, and his dad works for Pitt as a tennis coach. Then he gets a Penn State offer and BOOM he commits. I love this quote.
"You can't deny that they were the Big Ten champions; that stands out a lot."
You know what else you can't deny?
Pitt Sucks!
Do yourself a favor and go watch the Pitt meltdown.
PatheticI wonder if there are some major problems in the program that we are not privy to.
Gee, ya think?
i think it's a d*** move by the kid. you don't send your pops into work, where he graduated, and have him answer a million questions for the next 4 years+ about why he let his kid go to the rival school. i hate psu. that's easily 1/3 of what makes a good pitt fan, despite what smilin' steve says. eff them and i will in no way wish well to this kid. i don't hope he gets injured but i certainly do hope psu loses every single game they play. and that includes the day he joins the team, which apparently is today. he defected from the corleone's to the solozzo family.
Well, if Dieffenbach ever has second thoughts in the coming months, he should go back and read some of these comments.
Welcome to the good guys, Miles. We're glad to have you.
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Quote Mr. Dieffenbach:
Son, I work at Pitt, so if you go there it’s free. What? PSU offerred? I’ll pack your bags. LET’S GO STATE.
World F#$king Champions
by psudrozz on Jun 2, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You have to wonder
Maybe his Dad is sending his kid to PSU to angle for a job as our new women’s tennis coach?
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Jun 2, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Pitt Women's Tennis
Is at best a fourth-rate Division I program. Penn State’s program is pretty garbage too, actually.
by The Mess on Jun 2, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Leftovers with picked-off pepperoni?
Yes!
by Kevin HD on Jun 2, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol, I didn't make the women's tennis team/pepperoni pizza connection until this
kudos, Kevin (and thanks, Dawson, for the reminder)
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 4, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, didn't pick up on that either
I kept thinking about how delicious that pepperoni pizza looked, forgetting to try and figure out the correlation.
by Screen Name 20 on Jun 4, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
pantherspride wrote:
But you wish the young man well and you move on. It’s college football. Not war.
yes it is. that’s why pitt is mediocre. go down to bama and ask the tennis coach what would happen if his great FB playing son was going to auburn. would never hapen. they don’t play around with this stuff.
i think it’s a d*** move by the kid. you don’t send your pops into work, where he graduated, and have him answer a million questions for the next 4 years+ about why he let his kid go to the rival school. i hate psu. that’s easily 1/3 of what makes a good pitt fan, despite what smilin’ steve says. eff them and i will in no way wish well to this kid. i don’t hope he gets injured but i certainly do hope psu loses every single game they play. and that includes the day he joins the team, which apparently is today. he defected from the corleone’s to the solozzo family.
welcome to the slow paintful realization that your football program is in shambles, and has been for 25 years.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
by millzners on Jun 2, 2009 11:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This feels like the right time for.......
DO YOU HAVE ANY PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jun 2, 2009 11:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
whatchagonna do? whatchagonna do when they....ah you know.
by Kevin HD on Jun 2, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he gonna test drive the shit out of this
Champion of the sun, master of karate and friendship for everyone.
by psu on Jun 3, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i hate psu. that’s easily 1/3 of what makes a good pitt fan, despite what smilin’ steve says.
Don’t you just love having a little brother?
DO YOU HAVE ANY PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jun 2, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
One third is yelling “STEELERS!!!” to draw attention away from your shitty football team.
The other third is dedicated to making and living your own reality where Pitt isn’t ignoring football to become a basketball power.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jun 3, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'
by Pete the Streak on Jun 3, 2009 6:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oops........
umm…disregard that please. Ugh.
'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'
by Pete the Streak on Jun 3, 2009 6:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Curiously
Pitt Blather has had four articles this week, three on basketball (two on the drafting of Young and one on Blair) and one football article on Scott Mckillop, who wa drafted by the Niners. Clearly they love the past (and their 100 or so football national championships prior to 1950) and don’t have much to talk about the current or future team. Sad, because they really have some great kids there this year and if one of their QB’s step up a little, they could have a top ten team. But the fans don’t get behind them!
by PaJoe on Jun 3, 2009 6:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Top 10 in the Big East, sure
Top 10 in the country? Eh….. no.
by Tailgate Shogun on Jun 3, 2009 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They had great recruiting classes in 2006 (11th) and 2007 (8th).
So they have some very good Jr/Sr kids and the Big East, as we know, sucks loudly! However, they have been grossly mismanaged by Wannstedt (a much worse coach than Dick Rod) and departed OC, Matt Cavanaugh. They have a 5-star QB that has not matured. Larry Cignetti will do better with the offense.
I really think they have only two ??? games…Notre Dame and West Virginia (and I don’t see WVU improving themselves). If they lose one or two of the others, Pitt will be looking for a new head coach for 2010.
I still think we should play them and settle this shit every year on the field. We would win four of every five.
by PaJoe on Jun 3, 2009 8:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rutgers beats Pitt four out of five games.
The last time Pitt beat Rutgers was pre-Conference USEast in 2004.
Rutgers has a better program than Pitt, so we’re playing them instead.
by Aaron PSU on Jun 3, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They only have two "games" by our standards
in their world, Cincinnati is a game. And a tough one. Ditto South Florida and UConn.
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 3, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Recruiting rankings
There recruit rankings are wildly inflated due to having some Pitt homers be part of the rating process (namely on Scout). If you ook at the offers, their supposively great classes have some decent players but aren’t nearly as good as they may appear superficially.
There’s still enough talent there to win the Big East if Wanny could effectively coach, but they wouldn’t be much of a threat to win a championship in any other BCS conference that has stronger top tier teams.
by Laaaaazzz on Jun 3, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Meh
That Pitt homer thing has died down IMO. Guys do make mistakes also. While Bostick and Byhnam haven’t lived up to their 5* expectation the jury is still out on guys like Hayle and Baldwin. We’ll see. Regardless Pitt sucks.
"From the outside looking in, you cannot understand it. From the inside looking out, you cannot explian it."
by psuphiman80 on Jun 3, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they're doing it backwards
see: UNC, Duke, and UConn
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's kind of
like admissions to pitt… if you have a pulse, you’ve already met 1/3 of their criteria
For the glory
by lionalum05 on Jun 3, 2009 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
God, I hated Pitt when I was a junior/senior in HS
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I got mail from them almost daily. The first week or so it was like, “oh, cool, a big school is that interested in me” then it just got borderline pathetic. It didn’t even make me feel special or anything, cuz it’s not like they knew me or anything about me other than probably my PSAT and SAT scores, and I just felt like they were wasting a ton of paper. I mean it isn’t like they have that much to even say about themselves to be able to fill all that material with new info.
Material every month or so woulda been ok, heck, even every few weeks or so, you know, to just keep them in your mind, but their approach actively backfired against them.
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Weird, I got info like that from Pitt a lot too, although I did send in an application
My mom actually just found a folder of mine a few days ago that they sent me back when I was applying to colleges in 2005 with somewhere in the ball park of 30 pages (and thats not an exaggeration) about their biology program, rubber stamped letters from department heads and university presidents, pamphlets on tuition, and financial aid, etc. And I’m pretty sure I also received a folder full of half of the same stuff when they sent me an acceptance letter.
I got accepted quickly there, but knew I was going to go to PSU no matter what Of course, I did feel like such an idiot and was devastated when I didn’t get into UPark when a lot of people I know did, probably because of my shitty 3.4 GPA in HS, despite taking honors and AP classes to boost my resume.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 4, 2009 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just think how many
letters, twitters, texts, emails, packages of $50 bills, you would have gotten from schools if you had been a five-star running back! And you were just a “good” student. What if you had been a “good student” and an athlete to boot! Your mom would have had to rent a storage vault for all the stuff you would have accumulated.
I worked with a guy whose kid went to a small, eastern Pa HS (AA or A level). Just happened he was tackle at 6’5" and about 260. Got an unsolicited letter from JoPa in his sophmore year (didn’t get much after ward cause he wasn’t very good) but he went on to Lehigh as a sudent (minus the athlete part).
by PaJoe on Jun 4, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, I don't know if I still have the boxes of college info I recieved from places
but I had one box just of Pitt stuff (granted it was probably only 3/4 full), whereas most other places I received maybe 3 or 4 packages at most, and could all fit into another box combined.
I know I didn’t apply there, but I might have put them down as a school of interest or something on some form, and I vaguely recall going on a visit there at some point.
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 4, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The funny part is
I never visited them, or really had any interest in Pitt. I sent in my application simply to appease my parents who wanted me to send out more than one (since at this point I was pretty set on PSU, UPark or not), and got accepted there, and the shit kept coming like Montezuma’s revenge.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 4, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your mom finding a folder
Sounds hot.
When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp
by jtothep on Jun 4, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and another funny Pitt story
There were, I think 5 people in my graduating class that accepted and went to Pitt, but by the end of their freshman year there 3 or 4 had dropped out or transferred to another school for reasons I don’t know.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 4, 2009 3:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love this.
Just read most of the comments on that message board and I love it so much. I like that they point at PSU having a superiority complex. It makes me feel…all superior and whatnot.
Black Shoes.
Basic Blues.
No Name.
All Game.
by Roland86 on Jun 3, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it isn't that we have a superiority complex (which regarding Pitt we probably do)
it is just that we are actually superior.
I mean heck, it wasn’t our “complex” that got this kid to pick PSU instead, it was that Pitt is inferior (with an inferiority complex.
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In a lot of ways Pitt fans know us the best
They know that Penn State speak “good game” often means “screw you, you suck looser”.
That not spiking the ball, helping people up all of that stuff we do, is stuff we do to subliminaly but intentionally communicate to you that we think we’re so much better than you that you are not even worth insulting. It’s condesention in its highest form, it’s beautiful, and sooooo Penn State’s style.
I can see not liking that about our fans and our team.
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 3, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
lol, while probably true, definitely lol
and yet I could also see a Pitt player, when being helped up by a PSU player, think this and then try to pull him down to the ground.
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or thinking
OMG, I JUST TOUCHED HIM! I’LL NEVER WASH THAT HAND AGAIN!
by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 4, 2009 3:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even before the play starts,
I can see a Pitt guy thinking “Please, God, have The Zug pancake me! I’ll steal my jersey after the game and keep it framed in my OMG PSU Grotto Shrine, and tape the SportsCenter highlight of the hit and play it on continuous loop on my 52” flatscreen foreveh!".
Could happen.
'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'
by Pete the Streak on Jun 4, 2009 5:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wtf
are those real people writing those comments? do they know these are 17 and 18 year old kids choosing a school (and football program)? I tend to give an aww shucks when a guy I wanted commits somewhere else but they seriously need to take a look in the mirror after writing those quotes.
by PSUgavemeAnAlcoholproblem on Jun 3, 2009 3:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
People going crazy over a HS kid going to a different school is, well, crazy. It’s great when a kid commits and stinks when a kid passes us over, but it’s not the end of the world.
by Screen Name 20 on Jun 3, 2009 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
eh, I recall some people acting similarly when Shaw picked Michigan after "committing" to PSU
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is definitly PSU people that take this stuff too seriously
Its everywhere and it is disgusting.
Black Shoes.
Basic Blues.
No Name.
All Game.
by Roland86 on Jun 3, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
There are message boards idiots with every fan base and, sadly, PSU is no exception. I find it rather sad since 99% of the PSU people I meet in real life are nothing like the obsessive folks who populate message boards and flip out with everything (Shaw is a good example, there are a lot of folks who can’t seem to get over Pryor either, as another one).
That said, many Pitt folks seem to have a particular issue with PSU, which I find very odd given that we don’t even play anymore. I mean, most of them seem to be more bothered by a player going to PSU than they would Syracuse or Rutgers (for example). It’s almost like rejection of Pitt is understandable, but choosing to go to PSU is something crazy and sinful.
Interestingly, this seems to be a case of the player simply liking PSU as an environment more than Pitt. His comments speak to seeing Beaver Stadium and enjoying the campus at PSU, which is something I think you can understand would impress high school student going into college. Not to say that PSU/Happy Valley is for everyone — it’s not and plenty of folks would prefer the urban location of Pitt. But there’s no reason to begrudge someone because they like the “college town” atmosphere of PSU over Pitt; they are just different not better or worse.
by Laaaaazzz on Jun 3, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shaw
It’s completely different to be pissed when the kid says he is committed and changes schools on signing day like he did. But I do agree that it is overboard to get pissed when a kid just commits elsewhere or changes his mind well before signing day like with Newsome or Hodges in this class
by Grapenapalm on Jun 3, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well I was trying to compare the "sure thing" to "going elsewhere" angle
and I thought he had been a verbal to Pitt, but I guess they were all just assuming he was because of his Pitt connections (dad the women’s tennis coach there)
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It has been awhile since we had a Pitt Troll hasn't it?
Not to invite them in or anything, but a good ole fashion troll stomping would be entertaining today.
Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno
by carolinaeasy on Jun 3, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno
by carolinaeasy on Jun 3, 2009 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno
by carolinaeasy on Jun 3, 2009 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
His father, George, is the longtime coach of the Pitt women’s tennis team, so many believed the 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman would choose the Panthers.
“My dad’s not upset, at all,” said Dieffenbach, who’s considered the third-best center prospect in the country by Scout.com. “He supported my decision to the fullest.”
“It came down to Pitt and Penn State. I kind of knew I was going to commit (to Penn State) when I visited there a week ago. I liked everything I saw. I visited there again (yesterday) and decided to commit.”
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_627929.html
by RBGmug on Jun 3, 2009 7:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Pitt fans are clueless AND mildly retarded
Firing your tennis coach because his son went to PSU…and then incurring the bad PR and a possible lawsuit for such firing. There is no rivalry to anyone under 25! I bet most of these idiots never even went to Pitt and are posting from their mom’s basement in Johnstown.
by brd119 on Jun 3, 2009 7:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
To actually make a statement that they should fire his dad because Miles chose PSU is so stupid.
I mean, a women’s tennis coach is about as high on the food chain as an administrative assistant at the Katz School of Business. That said, he has been pretty successful coach. More career wins than JoPa! And, he has a daughter who plays tennis for, not Pitt, but George Mason. I didn’t hear the wackos call for his firing over that!
I am sure plenty (well, maybe there was one, once upon a time) of children of PSU employees go to other schools.
The whole thing about his dad is so unfair. His dad is a good coach, parent and spouse, community guy and deserves better than some of those comments.
The kid and his folks want the best. In this case it looks like they feel PSU is the best opportunity. Big deal!
by PaJoe on Jun 3, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how the heck does a family put out an O-lineman
and a women’s tennis player.
They do not seem to be compatible body types
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Incorrect
Most Pitt fans are Pitt fans because they don’t know any better. LIke this kid that just committed; “I hated Penn State all my life, then I went there”, well duh. Hey, lots of kids just don’t know they are Penn Staters yet.
Here’s the college graduate heriarchy in Pittsburgh, in terms of number of graduates, Robert Morris, Duqesnse, CCAC, Pitt, Penn State. Most people who live in Pittsburgh can’t get in to Pitt (save the jokes), and could never even dream of getting in to Penn State. You have to be in like the top 10% of your high school class to get in to main campus these days. And Penn State is super expensive.
The moral of the story, is 9 out of 10 Pitt fans have no real allegance to the school, other than the fact that they live in Pittsburgh. It doesn’t take much to convince them that Penn State is better, I’ve done it. I’ve said it a thousand times, enthusasim is contageous.
1/3 of being a Pitt fan is hating Penn State? Yeah, that’s pretty much Pitt’s problem in a nutshell. You can’t sell that against genuine pride and excitement.
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 3, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nicely said...
and true, as we all know. How many stories do you have to hear about anti-Penn State chants at Pitt home games to realize that their identity isn’t based on their own traditions or accomplishments. It’s rooted in comparisons to Penn State… and the hatred that obviously comes with the realization (and denial) of the fact that you simply don’t measure up in any way and probably never will.
by BSM PSU 93 on Jun 3, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can see their new marketing slogan now:
“Come to Pitt, where you can root against a team you never play!”
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A lot of this goes both ways . . .
“I hated Penn State all my life, then I went there” . . . I said the same thing about Pitt a few years ago
Isn’t living in Pittsburgh enough of a reason to have an allegance to Pitt? It’s enough of a reason for all of Central PA with Penn State.
Interesting take on graduates in the Pittsburgh area. Any backing to what you said, because I’d definitely guess otherwise, but maybe I just don’t know any better.
My take on why Pitt hates us? Go to Pittsburgh. We are there. We are everywhere. More merchandise in stores, more presence in bars. They hate us because we’re in their backyard much more than they are in ours.
by The IC Lion on Jun 3, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn’t living in Pittsburgh enough of a reason to have an allegance to Pitt? Ehh, but it doesn’t make you an alumnus, and it’s not pro football, which I think derives it’s loyalty based on civic pride. University affilation has nothing to do with where you live, I’ve argued many times with Non-Penn State “Penn Staters” talking shit on Pitt fans. I’ve done it here before, and I’ll do it again, more than likely somewhere in this thread.
I’ll try to tread lightly on this, but if you didn’t go to either school, who really cares what you think?
In terms of graduates, there are as many Penn State graduates in Pittsburgh and there are Pitt graduates. But all kidding aside, Pitt is a shit load harder to get into than Robert Morris and Duquense, and both of those schools hand out way more schoalrship money that Pitt does. But they don’t play [Division 1] football, so they roll with the local school. Pitt fans way outnumber Penn State fans. That’s an eyeball impression I’ve got, but my guess is that if you think about it, you know less a lot less Pitt graduates than Pitt fans.
Pitt hates Penn State because we tend toward arrogant and they tend toward insecure. In the broadest generalities that’s the whole thing.
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 3, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jesse
What do you say to folks who have had family work at PSU for years, but you still went somewhere else for college? Does that make us any less of fans? I would say not, I would be willing to bet many Non-Penn State “Penn Staters” have been to more games than a lot of alumni who are football fans. I understand that by going there for four, five, or in some cases a decade, fosters a feeling of pride in alumni, but don’t try and discount the thoughts, feelings, and pride of locals who see the university as a symbol of our region and our values.
Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno
by carolinaeasy on Jun 3, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, its more than a little elitist and snobbish
to say that you have to have attended one of these school to be a true fan. I am from central PA(Mifflin County) and go to PSU. I have a ton of friends who do not for many reasons. They still support the team and know more about it then at least 75-80% of my fellow students who gobble up tickets only because they feel like they are supposed to, not because of some deep seeded PSU football passion.
Being an alumni is important as to voicing opinions on the entire university(esp. academics) but not strictly the athletic side.
I agree with your last line and general concept though. Most PSU would never admit it, but it there is a certain air of arrogance around the program. It is not all intentional, but some of it is. Even if it is true, having “PSU is the symbol of cleanliness and godliness” shoved down your throat is tough. That pisses some people off, I get it. I just think people take all of this stuff too seriously. It simply doesn’t matter if you went to Pitt, PSU, Ohio State, Shippensburg, HACC, or took classes at the local Vo-Tech. If you are a good person, you’re a good person. I absolutely hate uncalled for “hating.” from every end of the spectrum.
Black Shoes.
Basic Blues.
No Name.
All Game.
by Roland86 on Jun 3, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think this is an interesting topic
My point is, it’s not pro football. You don’t get Pitt as your team because you live in Pittsburgh and you don’t get Penn State as your team just because you’re from State College. You don’t just get a college football team; I think you have to earn one.
Is going to that school the only way you get one, no I suppose it’s not, but in my opinion it takes more than a T-Shirt and some tickets.
But I’ll tell you this, if I run to some clown that went to Clarion, wearing a Penn State shirt bagging what a shitty school Pitt is…I’m going to rip him up (intellectually of course).
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 3, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I understand
I am perfectly fine with being a fan of a school you did not attend. There are plenty of reason why you might love PSU football but could not/did not attend class there. However hating someone for no reason is not acceptable, in my book.
Also there is a very stark contrast in bagging on a school’s athletic teams’ performance(okay by me) and unfairly bagging on their academic integrity(not okay, especially if it is not true). I think that is the problem for people. Finding the line between a school’s sports and the rest of said school. For example; Pitt’s football team is terrible and I dislike it, but I have nothing bad to say at all about their academic quality. They are not the same thing.
Black Shoes.
Basic Blues.
No Name.
All Game.
by Roland86 on Jun 3, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
true, they aren't the same thing
some of their football players actually succeed at the next level
ZING!!!
(and no, I don’t necessarily believe this, it was just a good setup for a joke. I mean c’mon, their football players rarely succeed either. DOUBLE ZING!!!)
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um, no
I’m sorry I can’t help but disagree.
My point is, it’s not pro football. You don’t get Pitt as your team because you live in Pittsburgh and you don’t get Penn State as your team just because you’re from State College. You don’t just get a college football team; I think you have to earn one.
This is crap IMHO. Being a fan is being a fan. You can be a fan of a team — any team — for whatever reason you want. While being an alumni of a school might give you a certain special connection to the team (and school obviously), there’s absolutely no reason that is the only way that fandom can be established. If you live in Centre County and PSU is the closest thing to a major sports team that exists within a 3 hour radius, why shouldn’t they be your team, even if you went to Juniata?
On the topic of earning it, what if someone goes to Johns Hopkins for school because y’know they “earned it” but also enjoys major college sports because they like them. They can’t be a fan of PSU? How about if they got accepted there? WTF? How about the person who got into PSU but can’t go due to finances?
I’m sorry, but I think you are just being silly.
by Laaaaazzz on Jun 3, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's fine.
If you don’t think the alumni of the school you’re cheering for have a bit more of an ownership interest in the school than somebody who didn’t go to school there, fine.
You can be a fan of a team — any team — for whatever reason you want. Sure. Is that fan the same as the person that actually spent four years at the school. If you say so.
How about the person who got into PSU but can’t go due to finances? That sucks. It really does.
What if someone goes to Johns Hopkins? Get into to Lacrosse?
How about if they got accepted there? I got into to Alabama, wouldn’t it be just a little shitty for me to pretend that the simple fact of applying and gaining admission entitles me to their football tradition?
Suppose a kid from State College went to Coastal Carolina for college because he wanted to live on the beach for four years. Does he get to root for Penn State, or does he have to take his ass kicking? I say he has to take his beating.
You guys seem to think I’m telling you you can’t be a fan of Penn State’s football team, which I’m not. There are lot of great reasons to be a fan of our football team.
But to wrap yourself up in all of the pomp and circumstance of Penn State even though you never went there, is strange. And to tell me your entitled to it, you know, cause you want it, well I think that’s silly.
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 3, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
quick question, Jesse
does going to the “archrival” of your undergrad school for graduate/law/medical school automatically revoke all rooting priviledges?
what about if you just go to the “fake rival”? (this one is important for me to know)
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you say so...
…but I don’t understand why it would. It’s actually a perfect illustration of my point however. How stupid would it be if I was a Penn State fan even though I went to Pitt? Pretty, right? Even if I’m from State College (which I am).
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 4, 2009 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't say, I asked
mostly as a way to mock your Pitt allegiances :-P but then I realized after I typed it that I would have to include myself as well :’(
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 4, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You don't go to Pitt & PSU
and not have a sense of humor about it.
I wanted to go to Wisconsin, but I didn’t have the grades for it.
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 4, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
same :-P
and while I like to joke that I didn’t even apply to Michigan because I wouldn’t step foot there (as a student), I also wouldn’t have gotten it (though even if I could have, I still wouldn’t have applied).
Wisconsin was one of my “aim high” schools, since they pretty much have the best Biochem program in the nation.
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 4, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rooting priviledges of the undergrad school?
I don’t think so, but then again I wouldn’t get caught dead going to OSU, or sayyyyyy (cough) MSU (cough) for grad school.
by Screen Name 20 on Jun 4, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well I did turn down OSU for grad school
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 4, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was just kidding
but bonus points to you for turning down OSU.
by Screen Name 20 on Jun 4, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you don’t think the alumni of the school you’re cheering for have a bit more of an ownership interest in the school than somebody who didn’t go to school there, fine.
I’d agree with you statement. But that sems drastically different from saying that “a person from State College doesn’t get PSU”. Sure, there are different levels of connections and a student or alumni is going to have more meaning to their fandom than random guy who likes PSU.
Your original statement basically called out a huge segment of the PSU fanbase — including a crapload of NLC donators and season ticket holders — who love and root for the team despite not being alumni. Maybe the connection is not as all encompassing, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t real fans.
Sure. Is that fan the same as the person that actually spent four years at the school.
I’m not saying they are “the same”. I’m saying you can still “get” to be a fan of PSU even if you aren’t an alumni.
You said “I’ll try to tread lightly on this, but if you didn’t go to either school, who really cares what you think?” — I don’t get that at all. What does where one graduated from have to do with the value of your opinion. That just seems really silly. Especially if you are talking about the opinion of someone who donates to the NLC and buys season tickets versus some alumni who doesn’t know who Shane Conlan is.
I got into to Alabama, wouldn’t it be just a little shitty for me to pretend that the simple fact of applying and gaining admission entitles me to their football tradition?
No, you are missing my point. You said that you have to “earn” your way to PSU fandom. I’d just pointing out what if a person “earned” the chance to go to PSU but didn’t go for perfectly logical reasons (not enough money, opportunity to go to a better school, etc.). You seem to be denying that person the chance to be a true fan (or somesuch) which seems silly.
And I don’t really know what you mean by “entitles you to their football tradition”. I think being a fan of Alabama entitles you to… be a fan of Alabama. That’s all. It means you can be excited when they win and pissed when they lose and waste tons of times on the internet debating their latest recruit or coaching move. Not attending a school doesn’t mean you are denied such feelings (or legitimacy in expressing them).
Suppose a kid from State College went to Coastal Carolina for college because he wanted to live on the beach for four years. Does he get to root for Penn State, or does he have to take his ass kicking? I say he has to take his beating.
I think it’s pretty shitty to root against your alma mater, so I’d hope that deep in his heart he’s want Coastal Carolina to win (even though it would be a futile wish). But I’d have no problem with the concept being “well, if we had to lose, at least it was to PSU”.
But to wrap yourself up in all of the pomp and circumstance of Penn State even though you never went there, is strange. And to tell me your entitled to it, you know, cause you want it, well I think that’s silly.
I honestly don’t get what you mean by this. That people can’t participate in the “We are… Penn State” chant? That they can’t wear white versus Iowa? That they can’t tailgate? That they can’t eat at the Creamery?
If you mean they can’t get into PSU and live and die by what happens to the team, well why the hell not? College football is awesome and everyone should get to enjoy it. I don’t see how being an alumnus gives one the exclusive right to care for a team.
by Laaaaazzz on Jun 3, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here's the thing
I argue with an Ohio State & Michigan fans, and vice versa, when it’s over if they didn’t go to that school I always say to myself, hey at least I actually went to Penn State. Trash talk from somebody who didn’t go the school they’re supporting is meaningless to me.
No matter how big a fan of Penn State you are, and no matter for how long. No matter how much money you donate, no matter how many games you go to. After you’ve won the argument about football with the Iowa fan at a tailgate by talking about tradition and National Championships, when you walk away, the Iowa fan is going to say, “yeah, but at least I went to Iowa”.
If you think otherwise your dreaming.
That people can’t participate in the "We are… Penn State" chant? That they can’t wear white versus Iowa? That they can’t tailgate? That they can’t eat at the Creamery?
Obviously you can, and it’s awesome that so many people do. Frankly, it’s one of the coolest things about having gone to Penn State, so many people wish they did, but didn’t.
But if you don’t think the alma matter means a little bit more to me, then it does to somebody who didn’t sing it on graduation day, you’ve lost your damn mind.
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 4, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess what I would say about this
is that I somewhat agree with Jesse, but somewhat agree with the others.
Think of it this way: how condescending are we do “subway Domers” because even though they didn’t go to ND, they are still “huge” fans.
But then I think of all the people I know who never went to PSU or MSU (either didn’t go to college at all, didn’t go to PSU for one reason or another, such as money, or going to a “better” school, or not getting into PSU/MSU, or were just locals, or friends/family of an alum) and yet are still huge fans.
While I agree that being an alum makes it a bit more special, with having the memories of sitting in the student section, and just the comraderie that goes along with it, there is no doubt in my mind that non-alum can still be just as big of a fan (sometimes even a bigger fan). To me, as long as they have a LONG history of being a BIG fan, they’re still a fan to me. On the other hand, if they don’t know jack shit about the tradition, and can’t name players on teams past (or even present), then they’re not a real fan at all (but this applies to plenty of students/alum as well).
As for singing the alma mater…well why would a non-student/alum sing that anyway?
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 4, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree wit Laz on this one
Basically, I feel anyone can root for any team they choose, for whatever reason that may be. As an alum I may have a better connection to the university, but that doesn’t give me a right to say I’m a bigger/better fan than somebody who grew up in Centre county rooting for PSU but never went to college. I mean, does it make me a better fan b/c I spent 4 years at UP while Joe Schmo spent 4 years at Berks?
Deep down I will know that I went to PSU and I will know that I had a great time there and that I love the university. Sitting next to me at a game might be some guy who loves the football team just as much but never got to experience the awesomeness that is college life at PSU. Why should I diminish his fanhood b/c of it?
by Screen Name 20 on Jun 4, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does that apply to Notre Dame fans too?
I don’t think that anybody would be giving me any shit at all for railing on a Notre Dame fan for never having been to South Bend, yet still claiming to be the biggest fan in the world.
There is a difference, it is hard as hell to articulate what it is, and it’s really tough to do it without being insulting. I am trying. Prehaps the analogy is stock, in my opinion alumni own “preferred” stock, while non-alumni own “common” stock. Hell you can probably own some of both, but in my mind what makes college football so compelling is the schools. At it’s core, it’s glorifed high school football, not semi-pro football, I think that’s an important distinction.
I’ve intentionally not used the word “better” throughout the debate, and seriously, “biggest fan” debates are kind of dull. That’s not what I see this is as. What I’m interested in is the distiction, and trying to define it.
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 4, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I think it does
Although they may be annoying, I’m not going to say that b/c a Domer never went to South Bend that it doesn’t make him a fan. If they invest their time to learn the history and consistently keep up with the team, fine with me. It may not be as special to them as it is to us but a true fan’s passion for their team can’t be denied.
by Screen Name 20 on Jun 4, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At least you're consistent
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
by jesse. on Jun 4, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But there are alot of ND fans who don’t even know where ND is.
They just like them beacuse they’re Irish or Catholic or really like Lucky Charms cereal.
THOSE are the ones that drive me nuts.
"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza
by NJ lion on Jun 4, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the new Lucky Charm marshmallow
is just a full sized marshmallow with the ND logo on it’s “chest”, and a little marshmallow whistle
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 4, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
anyone can be a fan of any team for any reason?
even my douchebag friend who is a “huge fan” of Michigan, despite never even being more than 200 miles from Philadelphia, just because he likes their helmets, and they were a good team to play as when he started playing NCAA football on his gamecube?
I’m sorry, but I just find that unacceptable
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unacceptable?
Um, why? I mean, people can fans of sports teams for whatever reason they like. Maybe they have different reasons than you. So?
To me, what makes a person a fan is how much they actually care, not how they got there. If your friend can name all the All Americans at Michigan and goes out of way to go to bars to watch games he can’t get at home and truly deeply gets pissed when Michigan loses such that it ruins his day, then he’s a fan. So what if his reason to get to that fandom is lame.
I mean, your “friend” might just be an idiot and not truly a fan and doesn’t actually care about Michigan but just identifies himself as a “fan” without backing up. Maybe, I don’t know him. But you can attend a school and be an alumni and still be a lameass about your fandom; it has nothing to do with a direct connection or not to a team.
Sometimes I think people take things way too seriously. It’s just a sport.
by Laaaaazzz on Jun 3, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
your last paragraph describes him to a T
he knows NOTHING about Michigan football, and yet was always the first to rail on me during their winning streak, and during PSU’s dark years.
All because he likes their friggen helmets.
On the other hand, my brother in law is a huge Dolphins fan because when he was a little kid he had a poster with all the NFL teams/colors/logos, and decided he liked their colors. I’m not sure if he’s ever even been to a game (though I think he has), but he knows all the history, and has autographed pictures all over his house, and is a huge fan. That is acceptable. My friend isn’t (plus, it is friggen Michigan…is there any excuse for that?)
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 4, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Similarly
A friend of mine that graduated a year behind me in school also loves Michigan for some deranged sadomasochistic reason, I’m assuming. He didn’t get into UM. Guess where he goes now? Dear old State, and loves it, and now that he is a PSU student and still somehow likes Michigan (and PSU too, which I thought was impossible), we have hours of fun at his expense busting his balls for being a scUM fan.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 4, 2009 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The best part of the meltdown
is the Domer piling on.
by PSU Mudder on Jun 3, 2009 8:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can't You See?
i don’t hope he gets injured but i certainly do hope psu loses every single game they play.
I guess this guy hasn’t seen our OOC schedule this year.
We would have to be the Women’s Tennis Team to lose all of these games and then to Indiana as well.
by CDRS on Jun 3, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
"I wonder if there are some major problems in the program that we are not privy to."
Aren’t the major problems that are public bad enough?
by Aaron PSU on Jun 3, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The best thing with this addition besides abusing Pitt
Is that we now have 7 recruits including a stud QB, WR, C, RB, and Guard. With just 7 players we have a core of guys that should keep HD rolling for several more years to come. So much for the years of our only points coming from defense.
Champion of the sun, master of karate and friendship for everyone.
by psu on Jun 3, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought that too
We’ve almost got a full O-line of moderate to highly touted freshman, all of whom will start to gel early. It’s great.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 4, 2009 3:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey Wanstache, how's that wall around Western PA working out for you?
by Spats on Jun 3, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Had to.
"Even though it was bouncing, I knew it was so soft that it was just going to stay in," Battle said. "Then I ran around like a lunatic."
by bconway6 on Jun 3, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
+1
DO YOU HAVE ANY PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jun 3, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the only thing that would have made this better
would have been if the bricks were instead slabs of bacon
MMMMMMmmmmmm bacon.
by The JuggerNitt on Jun 3, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You beat me to it
…stupid work filters
by Screen Name 20 on Jun 3, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boo hoo!
"Red, it took me sixteen years to get here. You play me, and I'll give ya the best I got."
by Touchdown on Jun 3, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Bravo
You get a pity rec for that, but you still have a while to go before you’re up to the level of the Working/Poor Man’s Photoshopper.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 4, 2009 3:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I second that pity rec.
Leave it to a Pitt fan, tho, to cry over spilt nilk
Perfect, TD.
'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'
by Pete the Streak on Jun 4, 2009 6:09 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Huh
I thought we would’ve been too country for this city slicker.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
by 06Lion on Jun 3, 2009 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Unbelievable
…the fact that miles was even considering playing for pitt is a testiment of the respect he has for the school. …everyone knows that at pitt basketball is king. Compare PSU on a saturday afternoon w/ Pitt on a saturday afternoon. Why would miles choose a school with a worse team and worse fan base just because his father coaches a DIFFERENT team there? ..if the father had forced his son to attend pitt then he would have been being a bad father. His committment to his sons happiness should be greater than his committment to his job. It was ultimately miles’s decision anyway..it is sick to say that his father should have held him back. This should be an exciting time for miles, he has made it further with his football than he had originally imagined…as pitt fans lets embrace it and support him in his decision to attend a BETTER football program. …((its not like hes going to WVU..an actual logical rival.))
by whatis on Jun 6, 2009 6:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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