If there’s one certainty with the Backyard Brawl, it’s that the Panther Pitt will do its part — and more.
Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers are well aware of the impact of the Pitt student section, which routinely fills up well before kickoff on a weekly basis. The mass of students in the sections of the closed end of Acrisure Stadium is always rowdy. And Narduzzi has a message for the students.
“I think our Panther Pitt will be outstanding,” Narduzzi said Thursday at his weekly presser. “I want to thank ‘em prior to. I want our Panther Pitt to cause at least cause two unforced errors on offense, for them. I want it to be quiet when our offense goes out there, so we can communicate and get stuff done. I expect it to be rowdy and expect them to be in it for 60 minutes til the end. And I expect our football team to keep ‘em there engaged for 60.”
So, to clarify, Narduzzi wants the Panther Pitt to cause two offensive penalties for the West Virginia offense. And he’d like the noise that causes those penalties to halt while the Panthers are on the field offensively. Easy. If anyone has shown up lately, it’s the students.
It’s the continuation of the Panther Pitt’s prominence in Acrisure Stadium/Heinz Field over the last few seasons, with thousands and thousands of Pitt students filling the stadium in support of the Panthers — and it should only get bigger against West Virginia this weekend.
And it’s a further continuation of Pitt students showing up across the board for athletics. The Oakland Zoo has been one of, if not the best, student sections in college basketball over the last couple of seasons.
The talk of attendance at Pitt sporting events, football games in particular, is overblown, but the students have filled Acrisure Stadium consistently over the last handful of seasons, and it’s certainly noticed by Narduzzi and the players. And the student section being moved to the end zone was an excellent way to showcase the commitment of Pitt students.
The commitment of Pitt students was on display early — or, late, rather. As students began to camp out at Acrisure Stadium late Friday night.
