-If the Big 10 is so concerned about academics, Pitt ranks higher than both Rutgers and Syracuse according to US News & World Report 2010 rankings (and FWIW, Pitt ranks higher than five current Big 10 schools)
-Pittsburgh is within the extremities of the Big 10, easing travel costs for teams
-Adds another huge rivalry game for the conference with Pitt-Penn State; a lot of bad blood exists between the programs due to Paterno's refusal to schedule the game, while he schedules the likes of Coastal Carolina, Eastern Illinois, Temple, Buffalo and Florida International instead. For all of you college football fans out there, Pitt-Penn State was one of the nation's premier football rivalries before Paterno ended it.
-Basketball program is consistently in the top 15, which is better than Rutgers can say. Syracuse can argue over this, but then the topic of the complete ineptitude of their football program comes into play. Pitt is the most complete package of the three schools.
-Pitt plays football at Heinz Field, a pro facility in a major sports city that seats more than Rutgers Stadium and the outdated Carrier Dome; Pitt also plays basketball at the Peterson Events Center, another new, nice facility that outshines the RAC and the cavernous, strange "basketball" Carrier Dome. People argue that Pitt can't fill the stadium (outside of WVU/Cinci and major OOC games), but when you are playing the likes of Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan, there will be no trouble in filling the stadium. Pitt fans are tired of non-traditional Big East foes and would flood Heinz Field to see these teams play in Pittsburgh. Also, Pittsburgh is an easier place for visiting Big 10 fans to travel to as opposed to Syracuse or Piscataway.
Rutgers is an afterthought in the New York area, and Syracuse is just too inconvenient/out of the way. If the Big 10 decides to expand again, Pitt makes a great addition IMHO.
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Pitt:
-If the Big 10 is so concerned about academics, Pitt ranks higher than both Rutgers and Syracuse according to US News & World Report 2010 rankings (and FWIW, Pitt ranks higher than five current Big 10 schools)
-Pittsburgh is within the extremities of the Big 10, easing travel costs for teams
-Adds another huge rivalry game for the conference with Pitt-Penn State; a lot of bad blood exists between the programs due to Paterno's refusal to schedule the game, while he schedules the likes of Coastal Carolina, Eastern Illinois, Temple, Buffalo and Florida International instead. For all of you college football fans out there, Pitt-Penn State was one of the nation's premier football rivalries before Paterno ended it.
-Basketball program is consistently in the top 15, which is better than Rutgers can say. Syracuse can argue over this, but then the topic of the complete ineptitude of their football program comes into play. Pitt is the most complete package of the three schools.
-Pitt plays football at Heinz Field, a pro facility in a major sports city that seats more than Rutgers Stadium and the outdated Carrier Dome; Pitt also plays basketball at the Peterson Events Center, another new, nice facility that outshines the RAC and the cavernous, strange "basketball" Carrier Dome. People argue that Pitt can't fill the stadium (outside of WVU/Cinci and major OOC games), but when you are playing the likes of Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan, there will be no trouble in filling the stadium. Pitt fans are tired of non-traditional Big East foes and would flood Heinz Field to see these teams play in Pittsburgh. Also, Pittsburgh is an easier place for visiting Big 10 fans to travel to as opposed to Syracuse or Piscataway.
Rutgers is an afterthought in the New York area, and Syracuse is just too inconvenient/out of the way. If the Big 10 decides to expand again, Pitt makes a great addition IMHO.