Tale of the Tape: Pitt vs Syracuse

Established
Pitt: 1787 vs SU: 1870 Advantage: Pitt... which was founded as Pittsburgh Academy, and later became Western University of PA in 1819. In 1845 a fire destroyed 20 blocks in Pittsburgh including university buildings and records. In 1908 they finally became Pitt but were not a public university until 1966.

The fire happened well before the construction of Pitts most…

Famous building
Pitt: Cathedral of Learning vs SU: Hall of Languages Advantage: Pitt... its the tallest educational building in the US (535ft, 42 stories) and 2nd tallest in the world. After a Pitt W it is illuminated in gold-colored lights (next eta 11/3).

Academics
Pitt: 57th vs SU: 50th
Advantage: SU… at least we have something going for us
School known for
Pitt: UPMC vs SU: Newhouse Advantage: Pitt... the polio vaccine was developed there byNotable educators
Pitt: Jonas Salk, Mr Rogers vs SU: Pat Moynihan, Peter Weller Advantage: Pitt... wouldnt be such a beautiful day in the neighborhood without Salks work

A neighborhood is part of a…

City
Pitt: Pittsburgh, PA vs SU: Syracuse, NY Advantage: SU... basically the same but SU gets the nod for being in NY. PA sucks.City Nickname
Pitt: Steel City vs SU: Salt City Advantage: Pitt... we are not bigger than US Steel.

Speaking of steel

Carnegie
Pitt: Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh and Andrew Mellon alum vs SU: Carnegie Library Advantage: Pitt... but thanks for the gift Mr Carnegie

Pitt is also known as the City of Bridges having 446 of them. Which are needed to cross…

Bodies of Water
Pitt: three rivers vs SU: finger lakes Advantage: Push... not too annoying having to drive over a million bridges, but lake effect snow is no better.

And snow is a pain when traveling down the…

Mount
Pitt: Washington vs SU: Olympus
Advantage: Pitt… they have an inclined rail to travel down in.

At one time in that area panthers used to roam, which led to…

Mascot
Pitt: ROC vs SU Otto Advantage: SU... Otto cannot be beaten
Mascots usually chill with the…

Cheerleaders
Pitt: multiple champs including 1992-1994 vs SU: nice to look at
Advantage: SU… thats what they are there for

And they can be seen supporting the team at the…

Stadium
Pitt: Heinz Field (65k) vs SU: Carrier Dome Advantage: Pitt... you can get ketchup at Heinz, you cant get AC in the Dome

Pitt played at Recreation Park until 1899. Then moved to Exposition Park until 1908, followed by Forbes Field until 1924. In 1925 they started playing in Pitt Stadium, where they stayed until moving to Three Rivers for the 2000 season and have been at Heinz since 2001.

1st year of FB
Pitt: 1890 vs SU: 1889 Advantage: Push... basically the same All Time wins
Pitt: 642 vs SU: 670Advantage: SU... it is too bad that the 3 best traditional BE teams (WV, Pitt, SU) arent together dominating the confFB Championships
Pitt: depends on who you ask vs SU: oneAdvantage: Pitt... 2 came after polls started (1937 and 1976)

Big East Champs
Pitt: One vs SU: Four
Advantage: SU… I still dont understand how in the hell they were given the BCS slot in 2004
Lambert Trophies
Pitt: Six vs SU: Six
Advantage: Push… both are tied for 3rd all time, one behind Army and many behind PSU.
Bowl record
Pitt: 10-14 vs SU: 12-9-1 Advantage: SU... way to represent Pitt

Sugar Bowl Shenanigans
Pitt: 1956 Bobby Grier was the first black man to play in the game
SU: 1987 Auburn went for the tie ruining SUs perfect season
Advantage: Push… there are no winners here. In that 1956 game GTech threatened not to play because of Grier. Props to Pitt for holding their ground and demanding that Grier play. In the game (a 7-0 loss), Grier was called for a controversial pass interference call in the end zone. After the game Louisiana outlawed integrated competition and no black players participated in the Sugar Bowl until a Floyd Little and Jim Nance led SU team played in 1965.
Head to Head
Pitt: 29 wins vs SU: 30 wins Advantage: Push… they are about to tie it
We hate… Penn State
Pitt: 42-50-4 vs SU: 23-40-5
Advantage: Push… boths main rival was PSU but no longer play on a yearly basis.

Second biggest rival
Pitt: WV (Back Yard Brawl: 59-37-3) vs SU: Colgate (29-31-5)Advantage: Pitt... they also have a rivalry with ND and now have added the River City Rivalry with Cincy

Rivals usually play for a trophy. But trophies can also be an…
Individual trophy
Pitt: Outland winner Mark May vs SU: TE trophy named after Mackey
Advantage: SU… a deserving honor

And the most important individual trophy of them all…

Heisman winner
Pitt: Tony Dorsett vs SU: Ernie Davis Advantage: Push... both were pretty damn good Other RBs
Pitt: Curtis Martin, Ironhead Heyward, Curvin Richards vs SU Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Joe Morris, Larry Csonka, Jim Nance, Moose Johnston Advantage: SU... easy win NFL QB
Pitt: Dan Marino vs SU: McNabb Advantage: Push... neither could win the big one QB that lead team to undefeated season
Pitt: Matt Cavanaugh vs SU: Don McPherson Advantage: Pitt... he has the ring
Other QBs
Pitt: Pete Gonzalez, Rod Rutherford, Alex Van Pelt vs SU: Marvin Graves, Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, Todd Philcox
Advantage: SU… by a slim margin

WR U
Pitt: Latif Grim, Antonio Bryant, Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Lee vs SU: Ark Monk, Rob Moore, Marvin Harrison, Kevin Johnson Advantage: SU... one is real the other is fake TE
Pitt: Mike Ditka vs SU: John Mackey Advantage: Push... both were great OLmen
Pitt: Mark May, Russ Grimm, Bill Fralic, Ruben Brown, Mark Stepnoski vs SU: John Flannery, Craig Wolfley Advantage: Pitt... nice blocking there DLmen
Pitt: Hugh Green, Chris Doleman, Bill Maas, Tony Siragusa vs SU: Dwight Freeney, Tim Green Advantage: Pitt… both teams have some great sack men, including Goose (as in eating)

LB
Pitt: Ricky Jackson vs SU: Keith Bulluck
Advantage: Push… both are underrated
Coaches
Pitt: Pop Warner, Johnny Majors, Jimmy Johnson, Jackie Sherrill, Mike Gottfried, Marty Shottenheimer, John Gruden, Mike McCarthy, Joe Walton, Mike Ditka, Wannstache vs SU Tom Coughlin, Ben Schwartzwalder, Coach Mac, Coach P Advantage: Pitt... in a landslide
Sticking with coaches,

Current HC
Pitt: Wannstache vs SU: GRob Advantage: Push... neither can coach FB staffer
Pitt: David Walker (SU Alum) vs SU: Desmond Robinson (Pitt Alum) Advantage: Push... doesnt seem right, lets trade Former SU BBall staffer,

Ralph Willard
Pitt: HC vs SU: Assistant
Advantage: SU… not surprisingly he was successful here

Staying with BBall,

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
Pitt: about Pittsburgh team vs SU: Marv Albert appeared in
Advantage: Pitt… Pisces are the best. This happens to be McNabb’s fav movie.

If they did a remake of the movie you would likely cast a…
Crazy Sports Exec
Pitt: Mark Cuban, Pat Croce vs SU: Al Davis
Advantage: SU… Davis was able to win a championship

Davis rules the Raiders like a…

King
Pitt: Friday VIII vs SU: Otto III
Advantage: SU… what kind of freaking king lives next to the train tracks?

Instead of a king we have…

Politicians
Pitt: Orrin Hatch, Rich Santorum, James Traficant vs SU: Al D'Amato, Joseph Biden Advantage: SU... ouch not the best group there, Pitt
Santorum is a contributor to Fox News Channel. Fox also employs…

Fox NFL guy
Pitt: Tony Siragusa vs SU: Daryl Johnston Advantage: SU... Moose beats the Goose

Other media guys…

Sports journalist
Pitt: Beano Cook vs SU: Bob Costas
Advantage: Pitt… it is fun hearing his senile views

ESPN CFB guy
Pitt: Mike Gottfried vs SU: Dave Pasch
Advantage: Push… not a fan of either

But I am a fan of midgets,

NFL battle
Pitt: a mini Ditka coaching a midget squad of da Bears vs SU: a Tom Coughlin coached Giants team using real giants Advantage: Pitt... a mini Ditka with a mini Fridge would still win

A mini fridge can store…

Food
Pitt: Primanti Brothers vs SU: Dino BBQ Advantage: SU... I will pass on the slaw Sandwiches called
Pitt: hoagie vs SU: sub Advantage: Push... as long as it tastes good I could care less what you call itBreakfast place
Pitt: Eatin' Park vs SU: Denny's Advantage: Push... the only winner here is the toilet paper industry

You cant get TP but you can get a portable toilet at…

Dicks Sporting Goods
Pitt: HQ in the Burgh vs SU: started in Binghamton
Advantage: SU… everything starts in NY.

If yinz get a portable toilet you may need Mr Belvedere (show took place outside Pittsburgh) to redd up. Otherwise your place will be trashy like Britney Spears. Remember when she used to be as important as…

Singer
Pitt: Christina Aguilera (native) vs SU: Vanessa Williams
Advantage: Pitt… and now it is time for the ToT’s closing song

This year’s weekly category…

Bizarro Swish (aka manly guy who kicks ass)
Pitt: Charles Bronson (native) vs SU: Thom Filicia
Advantage: Pitt… I dont have a death wish


Wow folks this one is almost too close to call. It could go either way. OT could be where this one is decided. But the Pitt Panthers will win in the end. And remember the numbers never lie.