Pitt to Pizza Bowl?
Most of the projections this week have had Pittsburgh heading to the Papajohns.com Bowl to face USC if the Panthers lost to No. 5 Cincy on Saturday.
Well, the Panthers lost a heartbreaking 45-44 decision to the Bearcats — thanks in part to a botched extra point in the final minutes. But Pitt’s bowl destination is not official … yet.
The Newark Star-Ledger reported on its Web site today the Meineke Car Car Bowl in Charlotte, has narrowed its choices to Pitt and Rutgers, which lost to West Virginia on Saturday.
The Charlotte bowl picks just ahead of the Papajohns.com. Rutgers played in the Birmingham-based, Pizza Bowl last year, and has a better reputation for bringing fans to bowl games than Pitt.
The executive director of the Charlotte bowl told the Newark newspaper the Meineke Bowl could have its decision tonight.
Should Charlotte opt for Pitt, Birmingham could bring Rutgers back for a second consecutive year. The Scarlet Knights brought about 8,500 fans to B’ham last year.
Or the Papajohns.com decision-makers could go with Saturday night’s South Florida-UConn winner.
A Pitt-USC matchup on Jan. 2 still seems likely. But again, nothing is official, yet.
Stay tuned. We’ll keep you posted.
8 Comments to “Pitt to Pizza Bowl?”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
I still don’t think Pitt will go to the so called ‘pizza bowl’ (and a really aweful pizza at that); Pitt will have other offers to field, lets be real here; Pitt’s still in the top 25; and even if they’re slightly under in the rankings, they’re not going down to Birmingham.
But this is what I want to know, what’s in it for all the fans who attend the game; don’t tell me two dollar coupons are distributed. Personally, if I had one for free, I’d give it to some homeless guy; not because I’m concerned about the homeless, but because this pizza in particular has to be the world’s worst pizza ever made.
Even DiGornio or Tombstone in the frozen section’s way better.
Can someone simply agree with me or have anything to say about the fact that Papa John’s pizza is just plain BAD; I say it again: what kind of aweful sauce is that? How can we let these guys even stay in business, let alone have stores all over the country.
What they should use the Bowl for is to simply show the world that their pizza is really that bad.
Anyway, it won’t be Pitt; it’s the winner of the Conn/Fla whatever their full name is; that’s the Gamecock’s opponent in beautiful downtown Birmingham, Alabama.
Whoever the opponent is the Gamecocks need a win. After a game like Clemson we need to go into the offseason with some momentum.
You guys really need to back it up on being critical of a January 2nd Bowl game. We’re a 7-5 team. If we were 8-4, we’d be in the Capital One Bowl, but we are 7-5, 3-5. A 1/2/10 game is fine, especially if we are playing a power like Pitt. It’s a pretty good match-up.
Gregory,
Not sure why you’re so down on papa johns, but to each his own, right? Personally, I like Papa Johns, as does enough of America if they are managing to still stay in business and make enough money to have commercials all during the peak times of the day. I go in stages, preferring them, then Pizza Hut, then Dominoes, but mostly sticking with Papa Johns and Pizza Hut. And I’m sure others hate the latter. Either way, they help sponsored a bowl that we’re playing in, so I’ll order a Papa Johns pizza on Jan 2nd.
Papa John’s pizza is some of the worst pizza in the history of pizza! It’s PATHETIC and it only sells because of its comparatively low price. Tombstone and DiGiorno’s are better selections as well as a brand called Tree Tavern Pizza. I am hoping beyond hope that Papa John’s (that guy is such a dork) selects Rutger’s so I can finally see a Rutger’s – South Carolina matchup. Being a New Jerseyite, I KNOW MY PIZZA!!! We have some of the finest in this state. Geraldo
Joe, the official Pizza Bowl is actually on 12/26 (and sponsored by Little Ceasar’s). Pitt would be a tough oponent but I would look forward to that game. GO COCKS!
Dear Greg: Your prediction was right on the mark about Pitt. As for the pizza, I used to like it but haven’t had it in awhile. I might try to order some during the game just for the spirit of it though I probably shouldn’t have told you that.
thank you; I’m glad i’m not the only one who feels this pizza is not only bad; but the worst pizza on the market. Papa John’s must think the American public is really stupid to buy that crap. Play dough tastes better than that. How can we be so desperate to actually pick up the phone, order, wait 30 minutes, and then actually pay for that pizza.
Anyway, UConn’s coming down South…maybe they’ll forfeit once they come down and see all these Confederate flags.
I don’t blame them for freaking out; but if they have any hatred toward the South, they shouldn’t blame S. Carolina; they should Blame Birmingham AL. We’ve had enough bad publicity this year.