U mad, bro?: Readers get heated about a Pitt football stadium, Acrisure grass, Mike Tomlin's press conference

The Steelers are 4-1. The Penguins are actually somewhat entertaining so far. Pitt may have found a quarterback, and Penn State satisfied its fan base by firing James Franklin.

Most importantly, we don’t have to watch the Pirates lose until April.

Times are good. Well … at least by Pittsburgh sports standards of late, times are good.

So how are we going to fill up “U mad, bro?” this week? What are we going to do?

Just blindly regenerate some old, hacky trope topics like the debates about an on-campus football stadium at Pitt, the Steelers’ hole at wide receiver and the turf at Acrisure Stadium?

Pfft! Clearly, we’re above tactics like that!

Aren’t we?

This person replied to my column about Ben Roethlisberger’s suggestion that the Steelers should evict Pitt from Acrisure Stadium as a way to save the turf.

That's like a $300 million solution to a $10,000 issue

— JP8BLITZ (@KackM98493) October 15, 2025

Since Ben made over $267 million in his career, that’s probably why he is coming at this problem with that perspective.

Someone named “@Cdawg2022” didn’t like that column.

The topic was fine….your derogatory digs was classless (not unexpected by JV burgh media) but carry on!

— Cdawg2022 (@Cdawg2022NC) October 15, 2025

I disagree with that slanderous characterization. Those were varsity-level digs.

This guy has thoughts on the stadium conversation too.

Pitt should play at CMU

— Jefferson Washington (@STCN2021) October 15, 2025

I’m sorry. I misread this tweet initially. I thought you said. “Pitt should play CMU,” not “…play AT CMU.”

I was going to say, don’t give Pitt any ideas. The Panthers just might schedule the Tartans for “Homecoming 2029” or something.

Let’s close the loop on this conversation with Steven.

“Big Ben’s suggestion for fixing the Steelers turf problem makes sense and you know it. Keeping the turf free except for NFL games during the football season is the only solution to fiascos such as we suffered through last Sunday. Pitt and area High School teams do not need to use Acrisure. The seating capacity there is way more than is needed for college or high school football in Pittsburgh.

Pitt has more than enough money to build a suitable on campus stadium. As to location, what about Schenley Park or the Cathedral grounds? I’ve been away from the ‘Burgh’ for years and I’m sure that there are other alternatives as well. As to seating capacity, 40,000 sounds about right until Pittsburgh proves differently.

Finally, Tim you seem to be developing a ‘get off of my lawn’ mentality of late. I suggest mineral oil.”

First of all, mineral oil helps grass surfaces?! Really? I had no idea!

Second, if you’ve “been away from the Burgh,” then you may not realize Oakland is even more crowded than it used to be, not less.

Third, I’ll ask again. Who is paying for that stadium between now and the end of the Acrisure lease (six years)? Especially since Pitt is still paying for Victory Heights. Not to mention, I don’t know if either side can break the lease even if they want to.

Finally, Steve, the irony of you claiming I have a “get off my lawn mentality” when you are the one literally telling Pitt to get off the Steelers’ lawn is too hilarious to put into words.

Someone named Keneth tagged me in a question with a bunch of other media members who cover the Steelers. In a since-deleted post, he said:

“Why do some media members ask questions just to (tick) off Mike Tomlin?”

I don’t think anyone “tries” to (tick) off Tomlin. That’d be counterproductive.

But it’s not our job to avoid doing so, either. Part of the job is to ask questions he doesn’t want to answer.

Part of his job is to either answer them or dance around doing so. If that “ticks” him off, well, that goes with the territory of earning millions of dollars to coach a game that churns out billions of dollars.

Now, let me ask you a question: Why did you ask that question in the first place?

Do you and other fans think that it’s our role as reporters to simply ask questions coaches want to answer as if we are public relations conduits instead of media members?

Or were you just trying to tick us off? Grab a mirror, Kenny.

William followed up on that exchange, referencing a question I asked of Tomlin on Monday.

He didnt like your wr2 question lol "throw to the open guy"

— Sir WilliamB (@William_xrp) October 14, 2025

Well, aside from DK Metcalf, I don’t like their WR depth chart. So I’m going to call it even.

This guy has an opinion on this front as well.

Tomlin's POV looking at the press corps and seeing Benzy raising his hand.. pic.twitter.com/X0zvDSVmAu

— Local Hero™ (@HofSpillane) October 14, 2025

That’s … probably true.

“YetiNHL” asked what Mike Tomlin muttered when he was leaving the podium Monday after his press conference.

What did Tomlin say on his way off the podium? Lol sounded annoyed

— Jaylen Warren Stan Account (@YetiNHL) October 13, 2025

He said, “Man, you all were annoying me today.” If he had stayed for one more question, I was going to ask him if he had any interest in the Penn State job.

Imagine how annoyed he would’ve been then.

Finally, my “Friday Football Show” partner Mike DeCourcy has an entirely different kind of complaint. It’s got to do with his quest for tickets to see the band, Rush.

Dear @rushtheband, I’ve been a fan for 45 years.
Your ticket sales process was an absolute nightmare.
I expected better, honestly.

— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) October 13, 2025

Sounds like a Fly By Night operation to me. You’d think they’d have more respect for the Working Man. Thank you for bringing these concerns into the Limelight.

via GIPHY