Memo to Heather Lyke and Jeff Capel: Bring Back the City Game!

Pitt athletics has been on fire lately. As a Pitt alum and fan, I am proud of what the University of Pittsburgh Athletics Department has accomplished, despite intense competition, in every sport. In fact, Pitt has gained national recognition as Athletic Director Heather Lyke earned AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. Lyke has done a fantastic job of building winning cultures throughout each athletic program.

Their accomplishments are piling up and helping to maintain the “City of Champions” moniker that is synonymous with Pittsburgh.

Here is a list of their accomplishments over the past few years:

Football

• ACC Championship 2021
• Sun Bowl Champions 2022
• 20 wins over the past two seasons

Basketball

• First NCAA tournament appearance since 2016
• 24-12 record in 2022-2023

Wrestling

• National Champion: Nino Bonaccorsi

Women’s Volleyball

• Final Four 2022
• Final Four 2023

However, there is one blemish on an otherwise successful era of Pitt athletics: the City Game. The historic “City Game” was an annual basketball game between the two Division 1 basketball programs in Pittsburgh: the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University.

The City Game was once a staple of college basketball in Pittsburgh. The teams have not played each other since 2018. That is ridiculous!

Even more ridiculous, is that Pitt, led by head coach Jeff Capel, has a non-conference schedule that includes North Carolina A & T, Binghamton, Florida Gulf Coast, Jacksonville, Canisius, Purdue Fort Wayne, and South Carolina State. Give me a break! You’re telling me Pitt could not replace one of these non-descript programs with Duquesne? Whoever makes that decision needs to have their head examined. Why would Pitt decide to schedule any of those teams ahead of Duquesne? There is no logical answer.

Not only do fans want to bring back the City Game, but it is an opportunity to have a rivalry game before conference play, which is good for a team’s development. What benefit is there of playing Florida Gulf Coast? Several years ago, Jeff Capel acknowledged that he has control over the schedule. If that is the case, Jeff Capel deserves to be severely criticized. College sports are better with rivalries, especially rivalries based on geography. It is hard to get closer than Pitt and Duquesne’s campuses. Capel has never given a logical reason why he refuses to include Duquesne on Pitt’s non-conference schedule. Even worse, Capel is ignoring the fan base. Pitt fans understand the City Game’s history. In fact, the City Game was often a big event at PPG Paints Arena, essentially a neutral site game.

I am urging the Pitt coaching staff and administration to renew the City Game with Duquesne. Bring back tradition, bring back fun. Until someone gives me a reason otherwise, there is no excuse not to play this game. The fans want it, the players probably want it. Do the right thing Jeff Capel and Heather Lyke!