Although the football programs haven’t figured out a way to play each other, the Pitt and West Virginia basketball programs announced today that the two schools will once again resume hostilities.
The Backyard Brawl is back.
This morning, it was announced that Pitt and West Virginia have signed a 4-year agreement. The series will begin next year with Pitt hosting games in 2017 and 2019, while the Panthers will travel to Morgantown in 2018 and 2020.
Pitt athletic director Scott Barnes had this reaction to renewal of the “Backyard Brawl”.
“We are extremely excited to announce the renewal of this great rivalry. Coach Stallings and his staff did an outstanding job working with their counterparts at West Virginia to help make this happen. The Pitt-West Virginia game will serve as a marquee non-conference matchup that will garner heavy interest in the area and on the national stage,” said Barnes.
Although Pitt basketball coach Kevin Stallings has yet to coach a game with the Panthers, he recognized what the series meant to the two programs.
“I saw the passion and intensity of the Pitt-West Virginia series from afar and felt it was important that we work to renew the series. Our goal in scheduling is to put together games that will generate interest from our amazing fan base as well as prepare our conference and postseason play. Bob Huggins is an outstanding coach and competing against his program enables us to accomplish both of those things. I can’t wait to witness this rivalry firsthand.”
