Pitt sports leave much to be desired, but still worth the ride

Being a Pitt fan isn’t always easy, contrary to what recent success might lead you to believe…. Being a Pitt fan isn’t always easy, contrary to what recent success might lead you to believe.

While on the cusp of the next plateau, the championship level, Pitt athletics have enjoyed a recent renaissance of national recognition reminiscent of the days when Pitt was a national powerhouse on the gridiron. It’s been a great ride thus far, and it may not be ending soon.

In the end though, when that final game is played, they just seem to leave you wanting more.

Since a 2-9 season in 1995, the Pitt football team has come full circle, winning the Big East last year. And while it is true that more teams technically won the league, with a four-way tie for first atop the final standings, than didn’t, Pitt won the games it needed to and enjoyed a trip to the Fiesta Bowl, the kind of Bowl Championship Series cash cow that big schools dream of.

But Pitt and its fans still want more.

Basketball at one point had the best record of any school over a three-year span on its way to three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The 2004-2005 squad made the tournament for a school-record fourth-straight time, but fell to Pacific in the first round. What’s more, the Panthers appear to have at least one player, Chris Taft, drafted in June’s NBA draft, with point guard Carl Krauser, who also declared for the draft, still possessing the option to return for his senior year should he decide.

But again, Pitt fans are still looking for more.

Just going to the Fiesta Bowl isn’t good enough for Pitt fans, they want to win it and spoil the kind of dream season that Utah, who blew out Pitt in that game, was having. Scratch that, they don’t just want that, they want a dream season of their own to rival that of Pitt’s 1976 undefeated national championship team.

The Sweet 16 isn’t going to cut it anymore for Pitt basketball, either. Once was nice, and even though the team was upset by Kent State that first year, it was viewed as a moral victory. The next year was even more disappointing when a kid named Dwayne Wade lit Pitt up, ending the prolific career of Brandin Knight.

Again, though, Pitt isn’t complacent with the Sweet 16, nor should it be.

The recent influx of talent into the Pitt basketball program teases fans with an underachieving postseason squad. Pitt fans want a national championship to hang in the sparkling Petersen Events Center. At this point, they may be glad with getting past the Sweet 16.

The point is that while in many ways Pitt is it, it just isn’t quite enough, yet. A lot is expected of these Panther teams, and rightfully so. State of the art venues are at their disposal, quality coaches fill the staff and there has been reborn enthusiasm around the program in recent years, paralleling the success of these teams.

And you can’t limit yourself to football and basketball, because the success certainly isn’t. Pitt’s swimming and diving squads have been atop the Big East year in and year out. Track and field enjoyed a breakout season, volleyball won the Big East in 2003 and baseball and softball are also climbing toward the upper part of their respective leagues as well.

But again, this can’t be the end. Pitt has many great teams right now, but great doesn’t necessarily transpire into championships, and that is what Pitt fans are looking for. And there is something all of you can do to help.

Try and go to one of every sporting event. I know that volleyball may not be your thing, or you vowed you would never be caught dead at a wrestling match, but give it a try. It may not entertain you, but what these athletes have to offer will at least impress you and odds are both will occur.

One of the most entertaining matches I have seen in my two years at Pitt was a volleyball match back in November. The excitement was there, the talent was even more prevalent and there was still a family-like atmosphere that can make you feel like you are a part of what’s going on out there.

And read The Pitt News when you can. We will be there every step of the way because we got some game of our own as well.

Geoff Dutelle is the sports editor of The Pitt News and he encourages all new students to go out and support Pitt athletics.