Shama: Pitino Versus Pitino in Vikings Stadium?

[BleedGopher]

per Shama:

New Gophers coach Richard Pitino told Sports Headliners he will talk with his father, Rick Pitino, about scheduling Minnesota and Louisville nonconference games.

“I think it would be great for fan bases and great universities, great athletic departments,” Richard said this week. “We would definitely talk about that at some point down the road.”

How about playing in the new Vikings stadium that opens in 2016? “That would be a great idea,” the Gophers coach said. “That would bring some good exposure.”

Such a game could attract 25,000 fans or more to the dome stadium. With Louisville’s reputation as an elite basketball school and the intrigue of a father against son matchup, it doesn’t take much imagination to see the game being nationally televised and providing valuable publicity for Pitino as he builds his Minnesota program and brand.

It’s likely any agreement between the two schools would include games scheduled in both Louisville and Minneapolis. The Pitinos met on the court as head coaches for the first time last December when Rick’s team beat Richard’s Florida International group, 79-55 in Louisville.

Richard worked for his dad at Louisville until he took the head coaching job at Florida International last season. The two are close and talk frequently. Rick, who coached the Cardinals to the national championship in April, is known for his work ethic.

“I think he really taught me just do (things) with unbelievable effort, unbelievable hard work,” Richard said. “He’s one of the most motivated guys I know. I just learned a lot by example from working with him for three years and being around him my whole life.”


http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!

 

[MadtownGopher]

This would be awesome.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Let's do it. Win or lose, certainly there would be a lot of positive publicity for the Gopher program (and both Pitinos).

And the U needs to make sure the game at Vikings Stadium would be part of the season-ticket package.

 

[MadtownGopher]

Let's do it. Win or lose, certainly there would be a lot of positive publicity for the Gopher program (and both Pitinos).

And the U needs to make sure the game at Vikings Stadium would be part of the season-ticket package.

Given the capacity of the stadium, I don't know why it wouldn't be.

 

[Rouser]

Let's do it. Win or lose, certainly there would be a lot of positive publicity for the Gopher program (and both Pitinos).

And the U needs to make sure the game at Vikings Stadium would be part of the season-ticket package.

I would rather we play at Xcel or Target Center so we don't have to wait so long. Its not like the Vikes stadium will be open in a year or two.

 

[matt]

I would rather they just play the friggin game at Williams Arena. That is the Gophers basketball arena, right?

 

[SelectionSunday]

I would rather they just play the friggin game at Williams Arena. That is the Gophers basketball arena, right?

Agree with you 100%, but given the lack of quality home opponents in our recent history, as a consolation prize I'd gladly accept a "home game" at Target Center, the X, or Vikings Stadium.

 

[die hard gopher]

I would rather we play at Xcel or Target Center so we don't have to wait so long. Its not like the Vikes stadium will be open in a year or two.

if we do that then why just not play in williams arena, i always prefer williams arena over the target center, it has a better feeling, the vikings stadium is different, i am not opposed to that but if we play at target center then we might just play at williams instead

 

[Dr.Don]

I would rather they just play the friggin game at Williams Arena. That is the Gophers basketball arena, right?

I disagree. What with the National exposure such a series of games would bring, the competition between Dad and Son, the Hype to expose to the nation the new Vikings venue, exposure for both Louisville and the Gophers nationwide, how the hell can this be a bad idea? mattw, please stop being a downer on such a positive idea.

 

[MadtownGopher]

I disagree. What with the National exposure such a series of games would bring, the competition between Dad and Son, the Hype to expose to the nation the new Vikings venue, exposure for both Louisville and the Gophers nationwide, how the hell can this be a bad idea? mattw, please stop being a downer on such a positive idea.

+1

 

[matt]

I disagree. What with the National exposure such a series of games would bring, the competition between Dad and Son, the Hype to expose to the nation the new Vikings venue, exposure for both Louisville and the Gophers nationwide, how the hell can this be a bad idea? mattw, please stop being a downer on such a positive idea.

I don't give 2 sh!ts about the Vikings Stadium Don. This would be great exposure for Williams Arena and the atmosphere it has when the fans show up. And I have no doubt the fans would show up to a primetime nonconference game on ESPN with the great storyline of Pitino vs Pitino.

 

[Dr.Don]

I don't give 2 sh!ts about the Vikings Stadium Don. This would be great exposure for Williams Arena and the atmosphere it has when the fans show up. And I have no doubt the fans would show up to a primetime nonconference game on ESPN with the great storyline of Pitino vs Pitino.

First of all, I think the future Dad-Son matchup would create great interest nationwide for real basketball fans, and you can bet your boots that ESPN would jump on it. But all of the positives, including 25-30 thousand attending versus 15-16, would also benefit the U coffers. Think about the big picture, mattw.

 

[station19]

I don't give 2 sh!ts about the Vikings Stadium Don. This would be great exposure for Williams Arena and the atmosphere it has when the fans show up. And I have no doubt the fans would show up to a primetime nonconference game on ESPN with the great storyline of Pitino vs Pitino.

First of all, I think the future Dad-Son matchup would create great interest nationwide for real basketball fans, and you can bet your boots that ESPN would jump on it. But all of the positives, including 25-30 thousand attending versus 15-16, would also benefit the U coffers. Think about the big picture, mattw.

I actually agree with both of you.

In the end it's usually the money that wins out.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

IU @ MN last year, storming the floor, chaos, pandamonium and 80 year old hoop fans acting like they was 40. Best selling point we offer a recruit. Can't be duplicated anywhere else in the state.

 

[beavergopher]

IU @ MN last year, storming the floor, chaos, pandamonium and 80 year old hoop fans acting like they was 40. Best selling point we offer a recruit. Can't be duplicated anywhere else in the state.

Imagine the money the Vikings could bamboozle out of the U of M.

 

[jaymil]

I like the idea. The players would love it and it'd be great exposure for the program and good for recruiting. Hopefully we'd have other high profile non-conference games as well played at the barn, but if we play Louisville one year in the Vikings stadium I think it'd be great.

 

[jovs]

Love the idea, a brand new NFL stadium would be a great venue for that type of an event, the national media would eat it up, the barn will always be there for those classic B1G matchups, depending on the ticket pricing I bet they could get 30-35k at the game.

 

[MadtownGopher]

I could see lots of Louisville fans making the trip since it's father vs. son and most of them think Richard is the heir apparent.