Pitt alumni and former players continue to express dissatisfaction with the direction of Pitt football and its athletic director, Steve Pederson.
↵Former players such as Bill Fralic have been extremely vocal. While the negative words from former players hurt the program's reputation and in the public eye, disapproving alumni who make financial contributions to the school hurt just as much - if not more.
↵Some of those donors are now stepping forward and demanding changes:
↵↵↵A movement is gaining momentum to pressure Nordenberg to fire Pederson or face the possibility of prominent donors withholding financial support.
↵"If Pederson remains, I'm done," said Paul Helsel, a 1966 graduate who played baseball at Pitt and donates between $10,000 to $25,000 annually to the university. "There are so many people like me who are upset."
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He's not the only one who wants Pederson gone:
↵↵↵What should get Pitt's attention is the backing of big-money booster Armand Dellovade, 73, of Canonsburg.
↵Dellovade, who owns a contracting company in Washington County, said he donates about $60,000 annually to Pitt. He has 34 football season tickets, including two dozen seats in the prestigious club level, and 10 season tickets to men's basketball games. Dellovade said he is contemplating ending his financial support if Pederson continues to run the athletic department.
↵"He should be gone," Dellovade said.
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Regardless of who is ultimately hired as Pitt's head football coach, donors and former players aren't happy with the way things have turned out.