With WVU’s baseball team closing in on a Big 12 regular-season title, its midweek matchups against Penn State, Marshall, and Pitt underscore the importance of regional rivalries. While Marshall still trails far behind the Mountaineers in most sports, Pitt stands as the definition of a true rival – one with a deep, bitter history that spans decades and stretches across nearly every sport. From the diamond to the hardwood to the gridiron, there’s no matchup that brings out more emotion than the Backyard Brawl. READ MORE: Revenge, Revival, and the Backyard Brawl
When it comes to the rivalry with the Pitt, for some of us, it hits a little too close to home. I’ll never forget driving into Morgantown for the first time with my parents and seeing a big sign that read, “You’re in Steelers Country.” Honestly, it felt like half the suburbs outside of Pittsburgh. Many folks in the area hitch their wagons to the likes of the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates (God bless their souls) and may enjoy a Primanti’s sandwich while visiting the city.
But Pitt? The college with the city’s name? The rivalry is flat-out nasty.
In theory, it’s the country kids vs. the city slickers. But the truth is, both fanbases are more blue-collar than they care to admit. Only 75 miles separate Morgantown and Pittsburgh, and the two schools have been going at it since 1895 – plenty of games over the years have helped fuel the fire. But nothing stoked the flames like 13-9. That 2007 loss knocked WVU out of a shot at the national title and etched the Backyard Brawl into college football infamy.
The Loss
The ‘superiority complex’ that WVU fans have over Marshall does not exist against Pitt.
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The scars from that crushing loss are still visible today – especially with the return of Rich Rodriguez, who infamously left the program just days after that 13-9 heartbreak. There’s no real way to avenge that loss – and Pitt fans know it. Sure, it feels good to win the occasional non-conference football, basketball or baseball game. But unless WVU gets the rare chance to return the favor by knocking Pitt out of a national title shot (which, let’s be honest, isn’t likely), the Panthers will always hold the ultimate trump card. That 13-9 game gave them permanent bragging rights in this rivalry, and there’s just no erasing it.
“The Pitt loss was the worst professional day of my career,” said Rodriguez after he was hired back. “It always has been and hopefully always will be the worst day. I don’t want anything worse than that, right?”
I still remember exactly where I was when the clock hit zero – face down on my bed, tears in my eyes, trying to process what had just happened. Deep down, I knew they’d never get a chance like that again. And I was right. It wasn’t just a loss. It was a gut punch to an entire fanbase. That night didn’t just end a season – it shattered a moment that could have defined a generation of West Virginia football.
Redemption
There’s a reason September 13, 2025, is already circled on every Mountaineer fan’s calendar. It’s more than just another Backyard Brawl – it’s Rich Rodriguez’s shot at redemption. A chance to reignite a program, rally a fanbase, and finally start to bury the ghosts of the past. Beating Pitt won’t erase 13-9, but it could mark the beginning of something new. Something great.
