Pitt Football
Pat Narduzzi: ‘Not Many More Important Rivalry Games’ Than Backyard Brawl
Pitt football’s matchup with the Cincinnati Bearcats in the River City Rivalry was a respectable primer for a true rivalry in the Backyard Brawl that will take place at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday.
For Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi, there is no comparison.
“There’s maybe not many more important rivalry games in the country,” Narduzzi said about the Backyard Brawl on Monday. “You guys can talk about the River City Rivalry. We all know that’s not really a rivalry.”
Pitt will welcome the West Virginia Mountaineers for the 107th edition of the Backyard Brawl that will once again bring the North Shore to capacity with droves of Panther fans and Mountaineer fans traveling in from Morgantown.
“If you don’t know anything about rivalries, this is the one. This is the one that people in Pittsburgh live for, people down South live for,” Narduzzi said.
When Narduzzi and his staff shifted the preparation onto WVU Sunday, it was much different than the week prior, especially for those who are new to the rivalry and what it means.
“Yeah, we’re going to educate them on the rivalry and what it is. There was no education last week. Education for a rivalry game this week, absolutely,” Narduzzi said.
Pittsburgh Panthers running back Israel Abanikanda (2) September 1, 2022 David Hague PSN
The two schools are separated by roughly 75 miles down Interstate 79 and played every year from 1943 to 2011.
Pitt went into Morgantown last fall in hopes of reliving the success it had the year before. However, Pitt’s offense compiled a meager 18 yards through the air and totaled 130 yards on the ground in a 17-6 loss – the fewest Pitt points in the series since it was shut out in 1996.
Narduzzi and his players know what’s at stake – revenge more so than anything – with another game added to the history books this weekend.
“I think any time you’re in that rivalry, yes, I think every year it adds to it. Every year there’s a different flavor…knowing what’s on the line and the people you affect and the Pitt fans and the Pitt faithful, the Panther Pitt. Everyone that’s involved in that game, everybody is into it.”
“Hey, this game this weekend is why you play the game of football. It’s why you coach football. This is it,” he added.
The last time Pitt played the Backyard Brawl in front of its home crowd, M.J. Devonshire returned a game-winning pick-six after it bounced through the hands of WVU receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton. It’s a moment that will live forever in glory amongst Pitt fans and forever scarred in the minds of Mountaineers.
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Pitt leads the all-time series 55-36-2 but has dropped four of the last five meetings.
Unlike last season, Pitt will enter the matchup sitting at 2-0 with an epic come-from-behind win against Cincinnati, 28-27. West Virginia holds a 1-1 record after falling to Penn State to open the season at home 34-12.
GreT gam, great moment…. luv the brawl
No education learned last Week? Hmm. For who the Athletes or the Coaches? How about relax coverage 3rd and forever instead of putting inexperienced CBs on islands trying to lead the nation in Sacks.
4-3 Rush DEs getting too far upfield commented on by TV anchors and how Run attack exploits it. You’ll see that again, particularly when we see a mobile QB as earlier as Saturday.
Validated what Coach Duzz said leading into season that Oline health will be a contributing factor to success. Already seeing left guard play not as great in week 2 with #1 banged up.