I just had to throw in one more gratuitous security/riot preparation story, if only because it came out of the NY Times. I must say, though, that the story seems a little short on the truth (at the NY Times when covering something outside of NYC? Shocking.)

Police officers using pepper spray cut off an attempt by fans to tear down the goal posts. Some fans stormed into downtown Morgantown, W.Va., and set 100 fires, more than usual on a campus where it is a custom to set fire to couches after football games.

Emphasis added.

Now let’s be fair. As far as I know it is hardly a tradition to set fire to couches in Morgantown after the Mountaineers win a football game. It has happened after the Virginia Tech games (and maybe last year after the Pitt game, but it was Thanksgiving break, so not as likely). Second, it was hardly a raging mob moving violently into Morgantown as the story implies.

Gratuitous shots not based on facts, just seem wrong. I’m sure the NY Times will get plenty of complaints once the Hoopies learn to read and write.

Since I couldn’t make the roadie, I have time to prepare a final roundup. Don’t worry, though, Pat, John and Lee will be there to represent in the Pitt cheering section — somewhere in Section 121 of Mountaineer Stadium (aka, The Big Pile of Cement paid for with federal money via Senator Robert “I was a member of the KKK, but it was just a social club” Byrd).

Mark Madden says that Pitt closed practices to try and hide the return of RB Brandon Miree, but it hasn’t fooled anyone (except, apparently all of the newspapers in Pittsburgh and West Virginia who haven’t even reported a rumor of it).

Looks like all of the papers have waited until today to run their pieces on how much the game means to players and fans. Now there is some good stuff to get the blood flowing.

Pitt senior tight end Kris Wilson stood quietly in the middle of Heinz Field last fall, observing the dances and the celebrations, the high-fives and the hugs.

His stomach twisted in knots.

There he was, in his house — on his turf — watching the West Virginia football team frolic after a 24-17 victory in front of a record-setting pro-Panthers crowd.
…
“This is crazy for me, because I finally realized what it meant to play against — and lose — to West Virginia,” said Wilson, a native of Lancaster. “It was just a rotten feeling. I’m not even from this area and I didn’t grow up knowing about the Backyard Brawl, but for some reason, when I was leaving that field, I felt worse than I did after any loss in my career. I don’t know why it came over me like that, but it did, and I can’t forget it.”

Yeah, that’s what I want to read. Pitt seems to be drawing upon the sight of watching the Hoopies celebrate on Heinz Field last year. And the celebration rankled some sensibilities.

[Walt Harris] also had an intense disposition during interview sessions all week.

“I try not to have the bitterness that you’re supposed to have about the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia — that’s one drawback, maybe, about not being a Pittsburgh guy,” said Harris, whose team must avoid an emotional letdown after upsetting Virginia Tech last week at Heinz Field. “But I saw what happened on the field last year when we got beat. I saw the demonstration.”

Both sides getting juiced.

West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez gathered his players before the end of Wednesday’s practice, at Mountaineer Field, and asked them to take a knee.

He instructed them to close their eyes and picture what the sold-out stadium would look like before tonight’s Backyard Brawl with the No. 16 Pitt Panthers.

He wanted the players to imagine what it would feel like to run through the inflated, smoking WVU helmet.

By the time this visualization exercise was over, Rodriguez could clearly see the smiles on his players’ faces.

The fans are ready down in Morgantown.

“That the road to the Big East title goes through Morgantown … down Don Nehlen Drive,” Headley said. “And if Walt Harris and Pitt don’t already know that, well, I think they’ll notice on their way to Mountaineer Field.”

Headley, a 23-year-old law student at West Virginia University, doesn’t mix words concerning his feelings for Harris and Pitt: “I don’t like him, and I hate them.”
…
“There isn’t any love lost,” Headley said. “Anticipation for this game is higher than it was for Virginia Tech a few weeks back.”

And that’s saying something.

Prior to West Virginia’s upset of then third-ranked Virginia Tech on Oct. 22, Headley and his three housemates entertained about 300 fellow Mountaineers in their front yard — likely the only front yard in college football with its own nickname, Tailgate Central, and Web site, www.tailgatecentral.com.

That Headley and roomies, Andy Hill and Thomas Ryan, live at 954 Irwin Street, which faces Don Nehlen Dr., the road busses carrying Pitt must travel if the Panthers intend on showing up for kickoff, is no small coincidence.
…
The partiers at Tailgate Central — mostly WVU students, identifiable by T-shirts that on the front read “Tailgate Central” and on the back display a map of West Virginia breaking up the words “Old School” and “Tailgating” — have at least two fans with stroke in their back pockets: Rodriguez and school president David Hardesty.

“I guess so,” Headley says. “Coach Rodriguez has shown up the Friday night before a game with pizzas, thanking us for the support. And, president Hardesty has stopped on his way to the game.”

The link to the site, though, says it’s under construction.

Of course the main storyline is still that a BCS bid for the either school is the major component of this game.

The very notion that the Panthers might still be on a high from last weekend’s win is laughable to Pitt coach Walt Harris, who succinctly summed up the importance of the rivalry.

“This is the Backyard Brawl. This is the all-time rivalry for this university,” Harris said. “We got beat by them last year in front of the largest crowd ever in the history of Heinz Field. We know what it’s like to not take care of business. Need I say any more?”

In a piece of actual game analysis, a WV writer figures it out: WVU needs to run the ball. Hmm. I think I’ve read something like that once or twice before.

Finally, some individual profile pieces. One on Walt Harris, and what people think about the job he’s done and into the future (complete puff piece).

The others regard Pitt’s stud WR, Larry Fitzgerald. One is a piece from a WV columnist designed to strike fear into the Hoopiefaithfull as to how good he is. The other concerns issues of what Larry’s father said to the NY Times about Fitzgerald considering trying to get an exemption for the 2004 NFL draft.Shortt answer: he’s not thinking about that right now.

Game time is less than 7 hours away.

Let’s go Pitt!

No one, and I mean no one pretended that this was a “pretty” game. Pitt was playing a very young and inexperienced Alabama team, but Pitt looked more out of sorts in the early going.

It’s hard to read much into the very first game of the season, but this will be their hardest game until conference play begins, so it deserves a little extra scrutiny. The storylines all focused on Jamie Dixon getting his first win as head coach and the game Karl Krauser had. I’m not trying to be overly harsh, but it was really the second half Krauser had. His first half was abysmal. He scored 21 points, but only 2 in the first half. Pitt as a team shot 0-11 from beyond the 3-point line in the first half, and a pathetic 4-18 for the game. The only reason they were tied at the half, was that Alabama missed a lot of easy baskets and Chevy Troutman went 5-7 with 12 points in the first half (more on him in a moment). The rest of the Pitt team shot 5-24 in the half.

Krauser did take over in the second half after a brief spell on the bench after picking up his 4th foul about halfway through the second half.

Troutman kept the Panthers in the game in the first half, but his defense was off. Last year he was a monster on both boards (offensive and defensive). This first game he was late on his defense, committing fouls after he was beat — leading to fouling out. He was definitely looking to be more of an offensive presence. He can’t forget the defense, though, or Pitt is in trouble. Senior Torree Morris is just a big body standing around on defense — he provides nothing.

Julius Page was definitely tentative coming off his high ankle sprain, and ESPN2 play-by-play guy, Dan Shulman noted that it was keeping him from trying to drive to the basket.

The most impressive player from Pitt in this game, to me, was Freshman Guard, Chris Taft. He only played 18 minutes but had 12 rebounds and 7 points. He is going to be a great force inside, and will push Morris and Troutman for playing time — in fact, I can see by mid-season Morris’ minutes being very low.

Pitt is going to be a team, barring an upset to one of its cupcake opponents that will be in the top-15 by conference play, but no one will know whether this team is really that good.

Usually this would be the last day of reports before the game, but with a 7pm start time, I think I’ll find time to churn out another round-up tomorrow.

In the “behave or else” category of security, there is this piece on the WVU players asking the fans to stay in the stands. There is also this attempt at what I’m guessing humor or to rip on Pitt in the student paper.

Collapsible goal posts? If West Virginia beats Pitt, is that really considered an upset?

That’s giving Pitt too much credit.

I have two words: Notre Dame. Pitt got dropped, at home mind you, by Notre Dame. That’s the same Notre Dame that needed a last-second field goal last weekend to beat Navy.
…
But really, all the talk of post-game debauchery is out of place because beating Pitt shouldn’t warrant tearing down goal posts. West Virginia should beat Pitt.
…
If Pitt beats West Virginia, that’s an upset.

So the goal post stuff can be put to rest. So can Grant Avenue turning into Andre Rison’s old house. After beating Tech, I was all for destruction and burning stuff, but the prospect of beating Pitt doesn’t excite me nearly as much.

This coming from a kid who watched his team go down to the Cincinnati Bearcats? Glass houses you idiot. Add in the fact that in his last line, he clearly doesn’t get the Backyard Brawl.

You want examples of what the Backyard Brawl means to real WVU fans? How about straight from the official Hoopie website. Pitt Preview, Campus Connection and Pitt Week, all written by John Antonik, an alum of WVU and Director of Internet Services for the site. Personally, I think it’s cool that the WVU site actually has some real opinions written for the site, rather than nothing but press releases. But read the pieces, especially “Campus Connection.” A really solid, personal piece recollecting the games he’d seen. It really helps get the flavor for what it means to Hoopie fans, and gets you in the mood for the game.

Another retrospective on the Backyard Brawl from ex-coaches: Don Nehlen and Jim Carlen from WVU and Johnny Majors of Pitt.

A few player pieces. Two on Pitt QB, Rod Rutherford. Then one on WVU QB Rasheed Marshall coming back from a concussion.

Then there is the Dominion Post top 5 list of the day, on the 5 worst games.

Finally, some nauseatingly good natured camaraderie between the WVU and Pitt Chancellors. Screw that I want drinks in the face, threats made, and punches thrown. I want Cheney going after Calipari in a post-game interview. Blood! Blood! Blood!

Lee’s solid analysis can be found here.

This will be the 4th straight Big East team Pitt has faced with a solid running game. In only the Syracuse game, did Pitt hold the leading rusher to under 100 yards — because Syracuse coaches are idiots and didn’t run Reyes for 20+ times. So here’s the first thing. Pitt will not be able to keep WVU RB, Quincy Wilson, under 100 yards if he touches the ball for 22 or more carries (he averages about 4.7 yds/carry). He may still be a bit tender with a bruised lung, but I wouldn’t count on it. WVU runs the spread, and runs it well. That means quick or no substitutions on defense at many points and with a speedy QB, Rasheed Marshall, that is a threat to take off, the defense can be worn down by the 4th quarter — something that happened to Miami a month ago. Marshall, though is not a particularly accurate passer. He has a sub-.500 completion percentage and has rushed more times than he has completed passes (68-64). Adding to his speed, he has only been sacked 8 times all year (by comparison Rod Rutherford has been sacked 25 times), giving you a good idea about just how good WVU’s O-line can be in providing protection. Wit Pitt’s history of overpursuit, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marshall end up running for 60-80 yards in the game. Of course, if that happens, Pitt will likely lose the game.

Pitt will have to keep Marshall in the pocket and keep him from turning the corner. Forcing WVU to win with the passing game is a big key for Pitt’s Defense. WVU has a good young receiver in Chris Henry, but not much of note behind him. This of course doesn’t help Marshall’s completion percentages.

On the Pitt offense, well there is still a lot of talk about WVU’s 3-5-3 defense. The pressure, though will be on their secondary — which is talking cocky. Pitt’s O-line has shown a steady improvement since it’s collapse against Notre Dame — at least in protecting Rutherford. Considering you never know if WVU will be coming with 3 to 8 men, it will have to continue it’s improved play. Pitt is obviously keyed by it’s passing game. Rutherford has had only one bad game — Notre Dame — otherwise he has been very, very accurate. His completion percentage is near 62% and that is with 288 attempts in 9 games. He has also been showing flashes of his old speed when he decides to take off. This will be very important given Pitt’s running game.

Obviously the receiving corp starts with Larry Fitzgerald. He will get his touches, and even with the 3-5-3 will pull extra coverage his way. The issue will be how TE Kris Wilson and #2 WR, Princell Brockenbrough play. One of the things about the 3-5-3 is it can clog the passing lanes, meaning the pass and the route have to be more precise. This could be a problem with Brockenbrough, who is not the most precise route runner (and has a propensity to run before he has possession). Wilson, though, is a very good route runner, so expect him to be the second leading receiver for Pitt in this game.

Pitt’s running game actually looked pretty good against Virginia Tech. Jawan Walker and Tim Murphy seemed to provide a good mix of running styles that helped eat the clock and keep drives going. Add in fullback Lousaka Polite for short yardage pushes, and I am cautiously optimistic that the Pitt running game can go for more than 100 yards between the three of them.

Pitt has a rep for a quick strike offense because of its passing game and Fitzgerald’s ability. This game, with the way the spread offense can wear out a defense, though, will require Pitt to chew the clock. Surprisingly, this is something Pitt has been doing the last 3 games. A lot of this has been because Pitt has taken early leads (except the BC game). If Pitt can get a quick lead and force WVU to throw more, the final score may not reflect how tough a game I believe this will be.

The game is a pick-em at this point, so I have to go with Pitt in a win that doesn’t look as close due to a late interception returned for a score. Pitt 31 WVU 20.

Because the dislike for the other side never truly goes away.

Steelers running back Amos Zereoue is upset over comments made by 49ers running back Kevin Barlow, a former Pitt player, about Zereoue’s diminished role in the Steelers’ offense.

Yesterday, Zereoue, who played at West Virginia, fired back at Barlow, who has never been able to beat out Garrison Hearst as the 49ers’ No. 1 back since being drafted on the third round in 2001.
…
Barlow, who played at Peabody High School, said he knows Zereoue from playing against him in college. He also said he ran into him a few times in the Strip District.

But Zereoue contends even that is not the case.

“I played against him when he was like a freshman, but I wasn’t really … he wasn’t making any noise for me to be paying attention to him like that.”

Barlow said he was going to call Zereoue and bet him $500 on the Pitt-West Virginia game. Zereoue said not to bother.

“We could have made a bet earlier, but what’s the point,” Zereoue said.

Barlow was drafted in 2001. Zereoue in 1999.

Before looking at the game, just an idle thought. I have no idea when I’ll be able to think of the Crimson Tide without stifling a snicker about Mike Price and “Roll Tide!” OK, juvenile thought out of the way.

Alabama does not look to be a good team this year. They lost three 4-year starters from last year, and will be very young and inexperienced. The counterpoint, of course, is that they so underachieved the last 2 years that losing the seniors may not be such a bad thing. This is likely a rebuilding year for ‘Bama, and they will play their first game of the year in Madison Square Garden. Between the SEC and a tough non-conference schedule, Alabama will struggle to get to .500 this year. They do, however, have several talented young freshmen who could see some significant playing time.

Pitt, while losing 3 starters from last year, is still a top-25 team. All of the starters have experience, and with the exception of point guard, there isn’t a huge drop-off in talent or depth. Pitt regularly plays in MSG in conference against St. John’s and in the Big East Tournament. Plus, several of their players are New York area natives. Pitt shouldn’t be intimidated by the surroundings — and so they shouldn’t have any excuses.

The biggest deal for Pitt, is their new head coach, Jamie Dixon. Already the subject of this coach puffing piece. The players all love him, and wanted him to be elevated from assistant to head coach last year. Well, they got it. Now the hard part. Vindicating the decision that has many Pitt fans nervous.

While I don’t think this game will be a “cakewalk” for Pitt, they should win the game. They are stronger on the inside boards and overall are a better team. The local Pittsburgh papers are trying to pump up Alabama by pointing to their previous two NCAA tournament appearances, and that this is the toughest opener Pitt has had in ages — which is more an indictment of Pitt’s piss-poor, Kansas State-like non-conference scheduling.

Still this is Pitt’s only ESPN/ESPN2 game until late December, so it will be the only game I actually see for a while.

7 pm ESPN2.

Since ESPN has the Backyard Brawl as its ESPN2 prime time game; and it will play a huge part in determining the Big East champ — and the accompanying BCS bid — it only makes sense that ESPN.com start running some stories.

One is just part of the predicted trend of stories on security and safety. Nothing that hasn’t already been reported. Skip this one.

There is of course the game preview with some basic statistical comparisons (I’ll try and do some actual analysis tomorrow).

The ESPN lead story on the Backyard Brawl is more about WVU coming back from a 1-4 start and now in contention than about the game and history.

This one in SI.com is about the possible good for the Big East to have Pitt or WVU win the Big East rather than Miami or VT. This is news because?

Finally, a column from the Tribune-Review about Pitt actually looking like it could possibly become a strong, stable football program again.

Still haven’t gotten around to talking about the future Big East composition. Really, there’s no rush since it’s a couple years away. Of course, I then read crap like this to bug me.

The Irish have made serious overtures about joining the ACC, two officials within the conference with knowledge of the moves told USA Today in Thursday’s editions.

Notre Dame is a member of the Big East in most sports, including basketball — but the football team has been independent for more than a century. A move to the ACC would certainly change all that.

One of the officials told the newspaper that Notre Dame also contacted the Big Ten.
…
Meanwhile, the Big Ten has taken a different approach during the expansion issue during the past year. The Big Ten doesn’t feel the same pressure that the ACC does to go to 12 schools and have a football championship game. But a Big Ten chancellor told ESPN.com last month that there is a standing offer for Notre Dame if the Irish want to join the conference. He said that the Big Ten wouldn’t need to go through the process of visiting Notre Dame or putting it to a vote. But, as Heisler said, Notre Dame hasn’t officially asked the Big Ten to join.

The fact there are no clear, flat out denials from the Irish make me a little more nervous. I still, stand by my early statements that Notre Dame is not joining a conference that would end its football independence — except maybe the Big 11, but I doubt even that at this time — Lee also agrees.

I assume Boston College can’t be disinvited, but a venal, vindictive side of me would find some satisfaction in seeing BC finding itself out of both the ACC and Big East.

This may be paranoid ravings — go figure — but could ND be doing this to keep the Big 11 from formally considering expansion until after the new BCS agreement is made? This would leave ND with more options if it should find the next BCS arrangement not in ND’s financial/national championship interests to stay independent. I believe the Big 11 is slowly moving towards making a decision in the next couple years, and ND may be trying to stay ahead of the wave.

I don’t know. Probably should just ignore it.

At the end of August (barely 3 weeks into this blog’s brief life) I published the following:

The 2003-2004 season could be a big year for Pitt sports. Not just as far as what they can accomplish on the field and the court. I’m thinking about their place in the local Pittsburgh sports scene. Locally, no one has given much ink or airwave time to Pitt outside of complaints of how they don’t measure up to teams of yesteryear. It didn’t matter because there was always a pro team to hold the interest at any time. But look at things right now.
…
The Steelers. Ah, the Steelers. The lifeblood of all Pittburghers (Pittsburghians?). Aside from the fact that they are playing in a weak division, there is hope but a lot more questions about the team. The defense. The running game. Special teams. Lots of questions.

Meanwhile at Pitt. There are potential top 10 teams in football and basketball. Definitely top 20. There should be a lot of excitement and expectations for both teams. Everyone loves a winner, and bandwagon jumpers should be lining up around the ‘Burgh.

If. If, Pitt can meet those expectations. Then this could help reshape the dynamic in the area.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bob Smizik, today.

Now what we have is a case of history reversing itself. The Pitt program, in the middle of a crush of crucial games, is picking exactly the right time to reassert itself. The Steelers are not very good, are not likely going to the playoffs and are turning off some of their fans.

Pitt will never catch the Steelers in the hearts and minds of Pittsburgh-area football fans. But they’re gaining a bit of ground.
…
It’s never easy for a college program to succeed in a town dominated by professional teams, particularly one so close to the hearts of the fans as the Steelers. But there’s room for both to be successful.

Shrewd marketing and a winning team have put Pitt in position to find that success. Maintaining it won’t be easy, but it can be done.

This is in the context of reasserting that Pitt was right to move off-campus for football games. Still, why does he get paid to re-write what I’ve written for free?

It’s Thursday, and still no trash between the rivals. This is starting to get dull. In fact, the WVU team is saying it won’t do any trash-talking during the game.

Adam “Pac Man” Jones swears he can do it. Rich Rodriguez isn’t so sure.

The topic of conversation is, well, conversation. More specifically, it is the trash-talking version of conversation.

Rodriguez, West Virginia’s football coach, doesn’t want to hear it. And Jones, his sophomore cornerback and the reigning WVU master of the art, says that’s fine by him.

“I’m going to keep my mouth shut this game,” Jones said, referring to Saturday night’s sold-out Backyard Brawl against Pitt at Mountaineer Field. “I can contain myself.”

It’s not that Rodriguez doesn’t believe that, but, just as a precaution, he gathered his team for its Monday meeting this week and, well, stressed it.

Is Rodriguez trying to suck the life out of this game? I’m starting to think so.

When Rich Rodriguez played football at West Virginia, he doesn’t remember too much about the Pitt games. He recalls quarterback Jeff Hostetler scoring a touchdown to defeat Pitt.

“The game I remember the most was when we defeated Penn State, 17-14, during the 1984 season,” Rodriguez said. “I still have that one on tape.”

We are getting some game analysis, though. The piece also gets a little into the WVU defensive scheme. The 3-5-3:

So, what exactly is the 3-5-3? It’s a rarely seen base defense that essentially uses three down linemen, five linebackers and three defensive backs. Most teams use such a scheme for their “prevent” defense, but the Mountaineers use it on a full-time basis.

“They make it tough on a quarterback because they take him out of his rhythm,” Pitt coach Walt Harris said. “They have five guys underneath and three deep and it can really throw you out of whack. And, they have so many variations, and they can do so many things that they trick you a lot of times.”

The 3-5-3 was effective enough to hold the Panthers to two touchdowns and a field goal in a 24-17 loss last season at Heinz Field. The Mountaineers forced four turnovers out of that alignment, including a pair of interceptions.

On the Pitt defensive side, there is a piece on Pitt and its dealings with the @#%^!* spread offense. The title of the article is “Panthers no longer spooked by spread.” Well they may not, but the fans sure as hell are. The piece is short on details but long on player and coaches confidence that “this time for sure” that Pitt will contain it.

I’m not so sure. Rodriguez went through a year of hell installing the spread. WVU went something like 3-8 his first year, because it takes a year for players to learn and understand it — something Walt Harris didn’t grasp back in 2001. Now that it is installed, though, it is scary how effective it can be. Especially against a team like Pitt — that tends to overpursue. Of course the main concern for Pitt will be stopping the WVU running game with Quincy Wilson.

The WVU players seem to be looking forward to the game, even if most of them (at least the ones quoted) were unfamiliar with the history.

There are a couple player puff pieces focusing on WVU WR, Chris Henry. Both the Pittsburgh and WV profiles mention his aspirations to rival Pitt’s Larry Fitzgerald. Also one piece on the return from his concussion, and trying to get enough tickets for family — WVU QB, Rasheed Marshall.

Finally, the Dominion Post continues its running top fives with the top 5 upsets. For good or ill, Pitt won 4 of the 5 listed.

Our resident uniform fashion expert should be all over this. ESPN Page 2’s worst uniform bracket.

Coaches press conferences and player profiles dominated the Pittsburgh and West Virginia newspapers.

As I predicted yesterday, there is another piece on security for the game.

Player profile puff pieces. The West Virginia papers have a couple on Pitt WR, Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald admits that this is the game he most wants to win — or at least tells the WV media that. Mostly there isn’t anything new, except that none of the opposing secondaries he has faced this year have bothered with much trash talking.

“Honestly, guys don’t really talk to me any more,” he said. “Virginia Tech really talked to me a lot last year and some other teams did, too. This year they’ll say, ‘How you doing, Fitz?’ and stuff like that, but no malicious comments or anything like that.

“I think my opponents respect my talent. But they also want to shut me down. It’s a fun relationship. It’s fun to go out there and compete and know that a guy’s going to give you his best. There’s nothing more you can ask for.”

Of course, Pitt hasn’t played Miami yet.

Other player pieces include speculation on Rod Rutherford as an NFL QB; a Pittsburgh area Guard playing for WVU because he got no offers from Pitt or Penn St.WVU RB, Quincy Wilson and his “bruising” style; and the leading WVU receiver Chris Henry. None of which are much more than standard player puff pieces.

Another list. This one listing the 10 greatest players who played in the backyard brawl. How can Marshall Goldberg not be on the list?

There’s a speculative column on why the Big East will root for Pitt over WVU this weekend. Not exactly an earth shattering revelation.

Pitt’s defense thinks it will be better against the run this week (hard to imagine it being much worse than allowing well over 250 yards and 4 touchdowns).

Finally, on the injury front, the Mountaineer underwent an emergency appendectomy this week. The Hoopies are trying to get an emergency Native Appalachian prepared to fulfill the duties.

Since Chas has challenged me, I had to consult my “Greatest Moments in Pitt Football History” book, edited by Mike Bynum, Larry Eldridge, Jr., and Sam Sciullo, Jr.

Also, in Tuesday’s Post-Gazette, there is a good article on this subject.

Naturally, the best Pitt win over WVU has to be the 1997 triple overtime win at Morgantown. Can anyone say “4th and 17”? I knew you could. One of the best Pitt games ever. Our friend Mike doesn’t remember it, sadly, since he spent much of the 4th quarter vomiting in the bleachers (too much Bushmills). This game marked the end of the Majors debacle, and the beginning of the Harris era.

While it was not a win, the 1989 tie between Pitt and WVU stands out as a great comeback by Pitt. Down 31-9 in the 4th Quarter, freshman QB Alex Van Pelt led the Pitt comeback, which was dramatically capped by a Ed Frazier last second field goal. The game was not televised, so we had to tune in to the radio broadcast. I remember how the Litchfield Towers erupted just after the kick, with fans pouring out into the Oakland night – a great post game booze fest was had by all.

Another great comeback, this one resulting in victory, was in 1970. This game is considered the greatest come from behind victory in Pitt history by most Pitt historians (Billy Hillgrove included). Homecoming at Pitt Stadium, with less than 45,000 on hand (it was always like that – not just when we were in school). Bobby Bowden’s Mountaineers jumped to a 35-8 halftime lead. Pitt QB Dave Havern, in a performance that permanently secured his place in Panther lore, led Pitt back in the second half, passing for three TD’s, including the winning TD with time running out. Pitt was a bad team in those days (5-5 record), but they got the better of the Hoopies that day.

Pitt had some good games with WVU in the Sherrill-Fazio years (especially after Hostetler transferred to WVU from PSU), with Pitt winning most. WVU won quite a few against Pitt in the 1990’s, though.

For others, I have to consult the history books:
1954 at WVU – Pitt is the only team to beat the Mountaineers that year
1955 at Pitt – Pitt wins 26-7 before almost 58,000 at Pitt stadium; WVU entered the game undefeated again (had won 11 straight since the last loss to Pitt); Joe Walton was the star of those teams; both goal posts were torn down with with 30 seconds to play, but police cleared the field and WVU scored on the games final play, with the extra point forfeited because there were no goalposts.
1956 at WVU – Pitt wins 14-13 on opening day

There are lots of close games between these two teams, and not a lot of long winning streaks either. WVU is Pitt’s longest rival (even before Paterno wimped out of playing Pitt, WVU played against Pitt more than any other school).
If this year is anything like those past years, it should be a hell of a game…

Thank God we do have the Backyard Brawl this Saturday, because there just doesn’t seem to be that many other games worth watching on tap. Of course, I’ll probably be too busy dodging flaming debris in Morgantown to watch many games anyways…

PITTSBURGH (no line yet) at WEST VIRGINIA: It’s nice to see the new brothers-in-arms spirit between West Virginia and Pitt due to all of the Big East defections this summer. It’s nice to see that West Virginia still cares more about this rivalry than we do. But it’s especially nice to see Walt Harris and his staff taking this game so seriously. However, closing off practices to the media does make me nervous, in that John Cooper (Harris’s mentor) used to do that right before he’d get the team too tight and blow another Michigan game.

Let’s break my analysis down into “football for idiots” format once again…

When West Virginia has the ball: The Mountaineers have a much more balanced offense than Virginia Tech had. But like the Hokies, the Hoopies clearly prefer running to passing. And they can run well: they ran for 264 yards against Virginia Tech (in comparison, we ran for only 143 against the Hokies). West Virginia’s star running back, Quincy Wilson, is not nearly as fast as Virginia Tech’s stud Kevin Jones (who scorched us for 241 yards last Saturday). However, West Virginia’s offensive line is perhaps even stronger than Virginia Tech’s. Thus, our defensive front must do a far better job of handling the opposing offensive line, closing gaps, not overpursuing plays (which we did FAR too often last week), and stopping the run in general. Otherwise, the Mountaineers will be able to establish the same ground-based, clock-chewing, ball control offense that Virginia Tech came within a few turnovers and other gaffes of successfully imposing on us.

But make no mistake, the Mountaineers can pass too. Starting quarterback Rasheed Marshall (I keep wondering if he looked at any other West Virginia colleges), who sat out last week’s Boston College game with a concussion, will be back for the Backyard Brawl. Marshall threw for a respectable 162 yards against Virginia Tech’s fast secondary. Plus, Marshall is a constant threat to dart out of the pocket and run for a few yards of his own.

To me, this game will be decided, first and foremost, by how well our defensive front can handle WVU’s offensive line, slow down Quincy Wilson, and contain Rasheed Marshall. If we can go one step further and pressure Marshall into making some bad throws every now and then, great. But slowing down Wilson is mandatory. Panther Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhoads has a tremendous amount of preparation to do this week, as his defense must be much better than it was against Virginia Tech and Kevin Jones. His seemingly cavalier attitude towards his defense’s piss poor performance last week is some cause for concern.

When we have the ball, we will have some trouble running against West Virginia’s unorthodox 3-3-5 defense. Virginia Tech certainly did: they only got 65 yards on the ground against WVU (in comparison, they got 269 yards on the ground against us). Even scarier, the Mountaineers absolutely dominated Tech’s offensive line all game long. Thus, our offensive line will have to work hard to provide any run support at all. And protecting Rod Rutherford may be even harder than it was last week.

Nevertheless, we should be able to pass against WVU’s defense: Boston College did for 326 yards and Virginia Tech did for 146. However, we have to be wary of the Hoopies’s secondary. The Mountaineers intercepted Boston College four times last Saturday, including two picks from Big East Defensive Player of the Week, free safety Brian King. King has grabbed five picks in the last three games, and will be watching Rod Rutherford’s eyes closely.

West Virginia will have a clear advantage on special teams. Big East Special Teams Player of the Week Adam “Pac Man” Jones is a dangerous punt returner who took two to the house at Boston College last week.

So the Mountaineers (like the Hokies) will try to use a ball control offense featuring Quincy Wilson to keep our high-powered passing game off the field. We will, once again, be forced to pass to set up the run. For us to win, we have to (1) slow down Wilson, (2) pass effectively without turnovers, and (3) avoid special teams mistakes — all in the midst of the loudest crowd that Pitt will see this year.

In Mountaineer Field, I feel it is more likely that our team will make mistakes than theirs. Virginia Tech gave us a lot of breaks last week. I’m not so sure that the Hoopies (and their fans) will. I’m waiting for the spread to make my final, official pick. But for now, I’m leaning towards going Bob Smizik (the archetypical self-loathing Panther alumnus) and picking the Mountaineers outright. But cheer up, Pitt fans! Remember that I’m only 19-21 against the spread so far this season. Worse yet, I’m only 3-6 against the spread when picking Pitt games. You didn’t want me taking the Panthers anyways.

PURDUE (+3) at OHIO STATE: Earlier this season, Purdue and Michigan State were the twin Cinderellas of the Big Ten. Each stood on top of the conference, temporarily (as I predicted). Each was built on a high-powered passing game staring an especially talented quarterback and receiving corps.

Then the Michigan Wolverines quickly and efficiently decapitated both of them with a solid defense. Last week, Ohio State dominated Michigan State, slowly shutting down quarterback Jeff Smoker and the Spartan receivers. I can’t see one reason why the Buckeyes shouldn’t be able to do the same to the other Cinderella. I’ll take the Buckeyes to cover.

INDIANA (+19) at PENN STATE: After Penn State put forth a valiant and competent effort against archrival (if not the other way around) Ohio State (or as Penn State players strangely insist on calling it, “O-State”… Can we call you “P-State?”), the Lions went right back to their bumbling ways last Saturday against Northwestern. For three quarters, the Wildcats tried to hand the game to the Nittany Lions, and the Lions steadfastly refused. Finally in the fourth quarter, Penn State went completely Keystone Kops on us and blew the game in truly comic fashion (the deflected pass for a Northwestern touchdown was on SportsCenter’s “Bottom Ten” for the week).

So Penn State seemingly can’t motivate itself except when it’s playing a rival (better get Pitt back on the schedule). Why should they be motivated against the lowly Hoosiers? Why should I believe that PSU can hang 19 on Indiana when they could only hang 13 on Temple? I’ll take the Hoosiers and the points, please.

So I got the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers, and potentially the Mountaineers (I’ll post again on that when Vegas finally gives me a freakin’ spread already).

Hail to my continued complete incompetence in picking Pitt games.