Here's the final copy of my article on Pitt's Fall Fest (previously referenced) Primanti Brothers eating contest. I'll post my grade later if it's any good. Well, even if it isn't, I'll just fib and make up a good, round number to post as my grade. *wink*
Anyway, feedback is welcome - both praise and criticism (but by all means, praise away).
Pitt’s Fall Fest brings Primanti to the table
"The show must go on" - never a statement rang more true for the Pitt Program Council than last Saturday during Pitt's annual Fall Fest when one of the sandwiches for a competitive eating competition was stolen from its table on Bigelow Boulevard.
However, despite the setback, the Primanti Brothers eat-off was still a huge hit.
Allie Miller, PPC's Recreation Director, has been organizing competitive eating competitions since she first became part of the PPC team. Before, it was always perogies or hotdogs, but this year, Miller wanted to go bigger and better.
And that she did: this year, Miller arranged to have real Primanti Brothers cheesesteaks for the eat-off's ravenous participants. "It's intense," said Miller. "The people that do want to do it really get into it." Miller noted that having Primanti's cheesesteaks works both ways: it reels in interest from those who already love the sandwiches and also works as some free advertising for the business.
If those delicious cheesesteaks weren't reason enough to compete, the prizes certainly were: the first place winner would be awarded a $100 Visa gift card with second and third place winners being awarded $50 and $25 cards. "We like to give [students] incentive to sign up and compete," Miller explained. "We want to be up to par with other contests like these."
It goes without saying that PPC spares no expense for each year's Fall Fest. Even the cheesesteaks were paid for by the Pitt Program Council, bought at regular price. "We're looking to expand upon getting donations," was all Miller had to say about the subject.
Perhaps having to pay for each sandwich is what impacted the decision of how many sandwiches would be used for the competition. Whatever the reason though, some who came to watch what they expected to be an "all-you-can-eat" contest could be heard complaining about "false advertising" when they saw just one sandwich at each place setting.
But Miller wasn't paying attention to the few griping crowd members - she was too busy trying to hunt down the thief who had stolen one of the cheesesteaks off of the fenced-in table.
Upon questioning some who had come early to watch the event, Miller discovered that someone had seen the man who took the sandwich and could name him. Blushing, Miller admitted, "I know this kid." Grabbing a nearby megaphone, Miller shouted for the thief - identified as Jesse King - to "bring me back my sandwich," threatening that if he didn't she would tell everyone not to join his fraternity.
The sandwich was never returned, and Miller was forced to make the decision that someone would have to bow out. With only 14 cheesesteaks left, one of the men who had registered to compete volunteered to drop out and was given a Fall Fest T-shirt as compensation.
Since the race was not timed, it came down to whoever was first to raise his or her hand. After only a minute or so, Pitt senior Ben Gillespie, eyes pinched shut, threw his hand into the air, followed shortly thereafter by two other men.
When asked about the techniques used to bring about his success, Gillespie said that the secret was all in smashing the sandwich flat then pouring water over it to make it "nice and soggy." In addition, he "warmed up" the night before by eating three pounds of pasta and drinking a gallon of water.
This wasn't his first victory for this kind of competition: Gillespie has won three other types of competitive eating contests, one which involved eating an entire pie in 30 seconds, another which involved eating 20 hotdogs in five minutes.
Overall, students seemed to be in agreement that the event was a success and that they are looking forward to what PPC will dish out for next year.
