Both sides want more Backyard Brawl

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s the stuff of rivalries. This week Pitt ran their workouts preparing for West Virginia inside their practice facility to keep them private. They discussed the fan support and unlike with Penn State, both head coaches want this game to continue.

“I believe that the game should be played all the time,” said Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi. “This is why you coach football. This is why you play the game.”

“I think it’s a series that needs to be played,” said West Virginia head coach Neal Brown. “It’s important. I think Pitt wants to play it. We want to play it.”

Narduzzi took another step, saying why not play it around Thanksgiving again. He remembers watching the games growing up and says why not schedule the Backyard Brawl for late in the season. After next year’s game there is a break in the schedule between the two, it will come back in 2029 for a four-game series, but scheduled to be played in September.

That could change, as Brown alluded to who knows what college football will be in five months, let alone five years from now. There were some epic late fall matchups between these schools in the past.

“To me we need to get it back to where it used to be,” Narduzzi said. Then he added he would play at 9am, 8am, September, October, November, doesn’t matter.

“To me, it’s nine conference games, it’s Pitt, it’s FCS and it’s a group of 5,” Brown said. “I don’t want to speak for them, but I know it makes sense for us to play the game. Close proximity, it’s a great TV audience, the fans on both sides are excited about it.”

And the teams split the first two games of the return of the series. For Pitt, 76 players remain in their program that lost 17-6 in Morgantown last year. For the ones that weren’t there, Narduzzi said he has discussed with them what to expect not just at kickoff at 3:30 on Saturday, but all day.

“I’m sure they all talk to each other in the locker room and going to class,” Narduzzi said. “I think they understand what it is all about. I tried to educate them on what it’s going to be like. All of the conversations that will happen in the stands. I think they have a good feel of the flavor we are going to get this week.”

Narduzzi even admitted he was paranoid this week. Instead of practicing at the multiple outside field in perfect conditions. He had the team on the one field in the indoor complex they share with the Steelers.

“You got people in the hills,” Narduzzi said with a big smile. “They live in the hills. Binoculars, Mountaineers man, they are up there in the mountains. Take nothing for granted.”

Saturday friends and foes will be in the stands with full vision of everything on the field. There likely will be a good contingent from West Virginia, Narduzzi is calling on his fans to draw some penalties.

“I expect it to be like it was a couple of years ago,” Narduzzi said. “I think our Panther Pit will be outstanding. I thank them prior to. When they get the ball, I want our fans, our Panther Pit (student section), to cause at least two unforced errors for them.”

“I expect it to be rowdy. I expect them to be there 60 minutes to the end. I expect our football team to keep them engaged for 60.”

Talk like this rivalry will keep fans engaged into the future.