A PITTSBURGH SPORT FAN AT RISK

I'm living in Florida - a State with more than it's share of good college football teams.

Despite that, I find myself still rooting for Pitt & Penn State, as I did yesterday.

Penn State was a no-brainer and I take my hat off to both the coaches and the players for what they have accomplished both on and off the field this season.

Pitt is still 'another matter." Rooting for Pitt is a lot like rooting for the Pirates.
For this guy, who continues to support both teams, you gotta figure my rooting has to be mostly based on  a misplaced wave of nostalgia.

I was fortunate to watch one of the 1979 World Series games and will never forget the exprience.

I also sat at Pitt Stadium - after recovering from the walk up Heart Attack Hill  - and rooted for Cavanaugh and Dorsett during the City of Champions era.

I was a Pitt football fan as was my Dad and his best friend Lew Beadling. Dad often told the story of the two of them watching a Pitt game, back in the day.

Their agreement was that they would each take a drink from their flasks every time Pitt scored.

I don't know who Pitt was playing - but it may well have been Notre Dame.

The outcome of their drinking agreement was that they had to revise their strategy and settle for taking a hit from their  flasks whenever Pitt managed to get a first down . Per Dad, both men left the game sober as a judge.

Yesterday, my wife and I were enjoying the Pitt/Notre Dame game at a local restaurant while enjoying the company of a bartender who shared both a place of residence and my given name with me. Nice guy.

It was one of those games where, for a while in the 4th quarter, I looked at the screen only after promising my wife, "I'm going to risk one eye."

Such is the precautionary measures a Pitt fan must consider if he chooses to witness a University of Pittsburgh football game.  This one , in particular, reminded me of watching a favorite young golfer - playing in a Major - who is up five strokes with four holes to play.

I think it's refered  euphemistically as "crash & burn." - which is what Pitt did yesterday in the 4th quarter.

According to my friend - "Bartender  Barry", the only time they were able to resurrect their previous game performance in the second half  was when I went to the men's room and they intercepted Nore Dame twice.

 Each time Pitt made an interception I was in the can.

Despite Barry's encouragement for me to remain there for the rest of the game I decided to risk the other eye and watch the end of regulation with the few Pitt fans still present in the restaurant.

It went about as bad as I expected.

I would not tell this to his Aunt Christine, who we sat beside while watching and rooting for the Steeler's last week, but I am not a fan of her nephew - and Pitt's quarterback - Tito Sunseri.

In the 4th quarter, after, playing a great game, Tito once again became my young golf pro.

When he tried to run the ball despite having several defenders in front of him - and a guy open on a curl route - I questioned my one-eye risking strategy.

When he next dropped a direct snap - I paid the bill - although the game was still up for grabs. I also did not watch any of the triple overtime loss at home.

 I've been a Pitt fan for way too long and still can't handle the many sad and disappointing losses I've witnessed in recent years.

My compliments to all involved - including Sunseri  & Ray Graham -  for providing us football fans with a whole bunch of satisfying and exciting moments yesterday.

Unfortunately, long ago, someone decided that a football game should consist of 4 quarters and not 3.

Now, if I can just get my optometrist to fit me in on Monday - I'll be a happy camper.