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Pitt AD Heather Lyke Talks Initial Challenges, Football Attendance, Color Scheme

First-year Pitt AD Heather Lyke yesterday discussed her vision for the school's athletics and the "challenges it has thrown in her path," according to Jerry DiPaola of the PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW. Lyke addressed "trying to fill the empty seats that annually emerge at Heinz Field during football," which has been an issue since Pitt moved into the NFL facility in '01. Lyke said that there will be initiatives "aimed at attracting people to the seven home games in a challenging year for ticket sales with no games against Notre Dame, Penn State or West Virginia." Pitt also "hopes to target specific groups of fans, enhance the tailgating experience and honor the two-time Stanley Cup champion Penguins." A "bobblehead giveaway is also planned" to honor alum and new Steelers RB James Conner (TRIBLIVE.com, 6/27). In Pittsburgh, Brian Batko notes Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi has led the school to "back-to-back 8-5 seasons with a bowl game his first two years," but average attendance last season was 46,076, "middle of the ACC pack" despite 69,983 coming to the Penn State game. Pitt "hasn’t averaged more than 50,000" since '10, and Lyke "didn’t mince words with her assessment that a raucous gameday atmosphere trickles down to not only the players’ energy, but the recruiting process." Lyke has "yet to have a 'formal' discussion" with PSU AD Sandy Barbour about the "future of that series." But Lyke said Pitt “would love to continue with any type of ongoing football games against Penn State if possible” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/28).

BLACK & YELLOW: Lyke said that there is "usable land on the school's upper campus to ease 'a facility need,' but there are no plans to convert it into a football stadium." Lyke: "I don't see that as an initial priority right now from the facilities standpoint. We have some teams that don't have adequate practice and competition facilities.” Meanwhile, Lyke said that Pitt's relationship with the Steelers, with whom they also share a practice facility, is an "important one." Lyke said of meeting with with Steelers President Art Rooney II, "He cares about (Pitt football). For him to give time to me, frankly, I'm very appreciative for that. He's listening. He wants our ideas" (TRIBLIVE.com, 6/27).

PRIMARY COLORS: In Pittsburgh, Kevin Stankiewicz notes Lyke yesterday was "asked about the possibility of the athletic department returning to its royal-blue-and-yellow color scheme." She "cautioned nothing was imminent, but the news of a potential return to the program’s historic colors is welcomed with open arms by many Pitt fans." Lyke said that Nike is "currently doing a study of Pitt’s brand recognition, so a decision about the color scheme before the results of the study would be 'unwise'" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/28). 

JUST WIN BABY: In Pittsburgh, Paul Zeise notes Lyke yesterday "made it clear that winning is the bottom line." Her "underlying message was 'win, and fans will come.'" That reality has "been missed by way too many athletic directors and marketing gurus who have convinced themselves they can promote their way to full stadiums." People "love giveaways, tailgate parties, bobbleheads, concerts and all that other stuff, but they love winning more." Lyke's message was "wonderful to hear in the day and age when administrators fall over themselves as they try to avoid saying winning is their priority." Zeise: "We all know it is, and we’d much rather hear the truth" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/28). 

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