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In just 100 days, Heinz Field will be packed with fans who have been waiting for the return of the
Backyard Brawl. As one of college football’s oldest rivalries, the battle between West Virginia and Pitt
has been full of historic moments for both teams — and with historic moments, come historic numbers.
Fast facts:
WVU and Pitt have met 104 times in the Backyard Brawl, with their first meeting in 1895.
The first Backyard Brawl was composed of two 25-minute halves.
In 1895, the first ever WVU football team was composed of 18 players. Pitt had 20 men on the
roster when the teams faced off on October 26.
The first Backyard Brawl took place in Wheeling, WV, about 79 miles from Morgantown.
West Virginia University and the University of Pittsburgh are separated by approximately 75
miles.
The matchup was first broadcasted on the radio in 1921.
1983 marked a historic win for WVU, where quarterback Jeff Hostetler drove the Mountaineers
90 yards downfield in the final two minutes to beat Pitt 24-21.
WVU’s longest win streak spans five games from 1992-1996.
The all-time series record is 61-40-3 with Pitt leading the Mountaineers.
In 2005, freshman Pat White ran for 220 yards in the Backyard Brawl and led WVU to victory.
When Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt was asked what his team needed to do to stop WVU’s rushing
attack he infamously said, “Run faster.”
Pat McAfee’s 51-yard field goal in the 2006 Backyard Brawl was the longest in Heinz Field history
at the time.
In 2009, Tyler Bitancurt kicked the game-winning 43yard field goal to beat the Panthers 19-16.
Pitt fumbled six times in its Backyard Brawl loss in 2010.
The last time West Virginia and Pitt brawled was in 2011.
60,932 fans attended Milan Puskar Stadium for the last Backyard Brawl.
During the last game in 2011, running back Shawne Alston rushed for one yard to score a
touchdown with 6:10 left in the game. WVU came back from a 10-point deficit to beat the
Panthers.
In the 2011 contest, Geno Smith totaled 244 passing yards. Tavon Austin had 102 receiving
yards.
In the last 10 games, WVU is up 7-3 on the series.
2012 marked the first time since 1943 the game wasn’t played, breaking a streak of 68
consecutive meetings.
On September 1, it will have been 3,933 days since the last time the two teams met.
WVU currently holds a three-game winning streak; will the Mountaineers make it four? In 100
days, we’ll find out.
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