Heather Lyke: Pitt 'ready to go' when they get OK to welcome fans
Bolstering what coach Pat Narduzzi said a day earlier, Pitt director of athletics Heather Lyke said the Pitt community is ready to welcome spectators into Heinz Field as soon as the next game Saturday against N.C. State.
Lyke, speaking on KDKA-FM on Tuesday morning, said, “We have been ready to go. We are all systems go when we get the green light.”
That green light would be approval from state government and health officials. She said those conversations are “ongoing.”
“We have submitted a plan for around 15 to 20% capacity,” she said, adding that equates to 13,000 to 18,000 people.
“We’re ready. We’re anxiously awaiting.”
Narduzzi has repeatedly issued public pleas to, at least, allow players’ parents into the game where he believes those coming from out of town would be safer.
“Being a parent myself, you can’t recapture those moments,” Lyke said. “We certainly hope that we have the privilege and opportunity to be part of a game-day environment in a reduced capacity, but in a very safe environment.
“People have a choice on whether or not they want to be in any environment. I prefer to give them that choice.”
Pitt junior tight end Grant Carrigan, a Pine-Richland graduate, said having his parents in the stands would be meaningful for the players.
“Even if there’s not a stadium full of people,” he said, “it’s still nice just to know the people you play for, the people that you love, are in the stands.”
Lyke pointed out that Pitt has played three games at Heinz Field in front of empty seats without any virus-related incidents. Covid-19 testing among players and staff last week turned up zero positive results.
Lyke emphasized Pitt’s plan includes proper social distancing for anyone in the stands, including the band, cheerleaders and dance team and the student cheering section, the Panther Pit.
But there would not be a halftime show on the playing surface, and tailgating in the adjacent parking lots would not be permitted.
“I don’t think there’s any risk-free environment we are living in,” Lyke said. “But we are more than confident between the (Pittsburgh) Steelers and our (university team), we have worked tirelessly to think about every single thing to prepare.”
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Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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