Will Pitt's fans be ready for Monday's big game?

Labor Day is only several days away now and I can’t wait for 8:00 p.m. to roll around on Monday night.

I don’t anticipate Pitt to pull off a stunner, but it doesn’t change the fact that my wife will be looking at me with a concerned look that says, “is he going to be normal again after this” as kickoff approaches. I am excited and as a Pitt fan, you should be, too. That leads me to this topic:

What kind of crowd can we expect from the Pitt faithful?

Truthfully, it's sad that we have to ask that question. But with some light crowds in the past, it's where we are as a fanbase. With few tickets remaining, there will be a big crowd for sure. Whether or not actual people are in the stands isn't a debate. The question is, though, how involved will that crowd be? Will it get to Pittsburgh Steelers on an important Sunday loud or be deflated after the first big score from Florida State?

One of the most fun football games I have ever attended (including high school, college, and pro) was the dreaded Cincinnati-Pitt game in 2009. The snow, the students, the overall crowd … that was fun and I had a blast despite the heartbreaking outcome. I really hope it eclipses that level and here are several reasons you should be able to do that if you are attending:

• Do you remember where you were in 2011 on the morning of the Iowa game? I do…I was in traffic for a wine festival when I saw the great news of Pitt going to the ACC. This is what we have been waiting for since the raid of 2003.
• This is a marquee opponent. Unless Pitt schedules Alabama or LSU, they don’t get much bigger than the Seminoles.
• It’s a national TV game with an 8:00 p.m. start (please note how I am taking away all of your excuses for being lazy on Monday).
• Karlos Williams fired the first shot at wide receiver Devin Street.

They need you! This game has a few ingredients for an upset. There is a freshman QB making his first start and a wholesale change in coaching down in Tallahassee. There are six new coaches to be exact and high volume in the stands could lead to some communication breakdowns with the staff and a new quarterback.

The weather is scheduled to be in the 60s and rain-free in the evening. What I'm saying is there aren't any excuses left to be made. So the question is, will you be the stereotypical Pitt crowd or will you do what you are asking the team itself to do and be ready for Monday night and come with full force?

You decide.

Pitt Football Game Day (via pittweb)